NCLOSURE TO PART III
stages of a cotton industry not yet receiving the labours of technical
specialists: and it is considered that description and discussion of
hem and their results will serve a useful purpose.
(This statement was circulated to the ‘Conference as T.C.(C)Cot.9)
Mr. KIRBY, continuing, said that his statement referre
articularly to the native Cotton industry only and had been prepare
with a view to summarising matters for discussion.
In the discussion which ensued the view was generally held that
he Director of Agricuture, Tanganyika, had at present no alternative
o mass selection. The method of selection of seed on appearance, as
escribed in Mr. Kirby's paper, depended on whether the fuzziness o
he seed in the mixture dealt with was really associated with goo
uality lint. This was a matter for investigation and could not be
accented without actual trials. The experience of most members o
he Section was that no linkage existed between fuzziness and oo
uality lint.
Mr. CAMERON said that the situation in Southern Rhodesia in
egard to seed was unsatisfactory. Two years ago the country was
inundated with all kinds of seeds and many of these had given poor
results. This year the administrative authorities had advertised the
act that they wanted to help growers to get good seed and that
armers who considered they had a good crop of cotton from whic
eed could be obtained for the next year should notify the authorities.
Some 70 or 80 did so and officials were detailed to inspect the fields
f those growers. Out of the number 25 were accepted. Those
selected were asked to pick pure white cotton and see it ginned
hemselves. This seed when finally approved at the ginnery was
agged and sealed under official, supervision. Owing to the bad
eason, however, the result had been disappointing and they had not
een able to get sufficient of the best quality seed. Next season’s
seed would be that which had been obtained from crops which had
ielded fairly well in a bad year and the farmers would get their own
eed back, since it had been put in specially sealed bags. All this
inspection work had been very heavy, but two men had been able to
inspect sufficient for 20,000 acres. If snecessful this year, then it was
roposed to go on with the system. The farmers had guaranteed to
ay fair prices for seed with a guarantee of germination. In
outhern Rhodesia it was very difficult to distinguish between the
arious reputed varieties.
Mr. SALTER said that in Northern Rhodesia the same state o
gi prevailed and they were being forced to adopt similar methods.
Mr. NYE said that in Uganda he did not think that any mas
SE had been tried.
Mr. KIRBY said that in Tanganyika the ginnery work was based
on the fact that the authorities had powers of requisitioning seed:
hey accordingly took seed from the first cotton ginned, thus ottining
he cleanest cotton seed and so working towards a more early maturin
cotton. A certain success had been obtained and reports showed no
eterioration in Tanganyika cotton.
Mr. PARNELL considered that it might be better when seed had
nce been passed to carry on with it in future years, even if the yield
in one particular year was not very good; this seemed to him to be
ossibly a better arrangement than going round each year selectin
d from crops giving a heavier yiel

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