ENCLOSURE TO PART III.
12. A Promising Species oF WiLp CorToN IN MOZAMBIQUE.
BARON SURCOUF, of the Mozambique Company’s Territory,
joined the Section for this item and made a statement as follows: —
In the course of my rescarches in the Southern parts of the
territory of the Mozambique Company, I have found three specimens
oi a wild cotton plant.
The exact localities are: the first at Chaimal near the hut of the
native chief; the second at the edge of a native village; the third on
the veld in the same region.
This cotton grows to a height of 2.50 m., but cannot hold itself
erect for more than 1.50 m., the remainder being curved downward.
At first, T classed this plant under Gossypium anomalum, but it
differs from it by the following botanical characters: the flowers are
pale yellow without spots, the epicalyx is short, but much enlarged
transversely, the boll is not very granulated, but smooth besides, the
staple is nearly an inch and very strong; the seed number 18 to 20
and are free as in G. anomalum, but more numerous.
The region of Chaimal, rich in native rubber, is situated in the
District of Mocoque. Its altitude is about 100 feet above sea level,
the soil is sandy with some argillaceous material overlying cretaceous
formations. There is no water.
The three specimens had grown under very unfavourable
conditions and the bolls were all perfectly healthy. I found no
parasites.
If this cotton is not an autochthonous species, it is possible that
it originally came from India and that, little by little, through lack of
cultivation, it has obtained its present characteristics
I have brought along a few samples to show to the Conference.
(This statement was circulated to the Conference as paper T.C.
(C)Cot.13.)
Subsequently, in answer to various questions put to him, he
described the specimens in greater detail.
SENHOR PEREIRA asked whether there was any possibility of
crossing long staple and wild cotton.
Mr. NYE remarked that he had found no species of wild cotton in
Uganda, and that in his experience it was often difficult to cross two
species.
Messrs. CAMERON and WOOD both stated that they had noticed
types of wild cotton in Rhodesia and Swaziland. :
BARON SURCOUTF said he was proposing to cultivate this species
of wild cotton, and would be very glad to distribute seeds he had
brought with him to any members of the Section who cared to have
them.
The Section thanked Baron Surcouf for his most interesting
statement and said they would be very pleased to receive
specimens of the seed from him and to grow the cotton at their
stations. The members of the Section individually undertook. to
publish the results of any observations.
156