[I PART IIT. 
The first subject taken for discussion was Plant breeding and 
Seed distribution, the one following naturally from the other. To 
those who had had the experience of new crops in tropical conditions 
the great value of plant work was fully apparent. The first thing 
after all in dealing with crops was to find varieties and strains to fit 
varyieg conditions; if these could not be found, then the growing of 
the particular crop became uneconomical and in fact impossible. One 
could not work against nature without paying for it; on the other hand, 
by working with nature, not only could normal yields be increased, 
but the effects of adverse conditions, such as drought, disease and 
insect pests could be mitigated to no small extent. 
SECTION I. COTTON BREEDING. 
The following is a brief account of the Cotton Breeding work in 
the various countries represented at the Conference: — 
I. NyasavLanp. 
From a large collection of types, obtained both locally and from 
abroad, a number of promising strains of cotton have been retained 
for growing and examination in the current season, 1925/26. 
These strains fall into two main groups as regards their staple 
lengths, the one with staples about 1 1-16 inch, the other with staple 
about 1 3-16 inches. It is not yet known to what extent they differ 
in other characteristics considered generally. 
The majority of these strains are in the stage of progeny rows. 
That is they are represented by progeny rows each obtained from a 
single plant selection of the preceding year. Two strains have been 
sown as bulks and of these one will have to be discarded on account 
of Jassid susceptibility. 
Up to this season, 1925/26, all work has been done at the 
Makwapala Cotton Station which is situated at an elevation of about 
2,100 feet above sea level. From and including the 1926/27 season 
it is proposed to duplicate the work at the Port Herald Cotton Station 
which lies at about 150 ft. elevation. 
It is considered that these two stations cover the main types of 
climatic conditions under which cotton is grown in Nyasaland. 
All plants in all progeny rows are being harvested separately 
each into its own bag and comparisons are being drawn between the 
progeny rows in respect of the evenness of their component plants as 
regards Lint and Seed characteristics, judgment being used in 
deciding which of the progeny rows are to be examined in this fashion, 
susceptibility or otherwise to Jassid attack being an important factor, 
provided that is that the rows are even vegetatively in so far as 
ordinary observations go. 
It is proposed to carry on the strains derived from these progeny 
rows In future seasons by taking for sowing as further progeny rows 
a number of plants which lie nearest the mean for the rows. 
From and including the 1926/27 season it is hoped that it will 
be possible to ensure self fertilisation in the case of all plants grown 
in the progeny rows. The tendency, therefore, will be, as time goes 
on, to establish nucleus stocks of strains which will become more and 
more homozygous with each year that they are grown. 
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