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COTTON
ACT
BY
XIV
CENTRAL
ATED
CHE INDIAN
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Indian Central Cotton Committee,
BOMBAY
1926.
BOMBAY:
INTED AT THE TIMES PRESS,
1926
( PRICE Ra 2 )

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·CONTENTS. Page Personnel Sub-Committees Staff The work of the year Cotton Transport Act Regulation of Gins and Presses Cotton Statistics Finance of the Cotton Crop Open Cotton Markets DIarketing of Improved Varieties of Cotton Spinning Tests The Liverpool Empire Futures Cotton Contract Measures to prevent the introduction of the Mexican Boll Weevil . Royal Commission on Agriculture 1 6 11 12 12 16 21 23 29 29 30 32 33 36 RESEARCH Technological Research Laboratory Indore Institute of Plant Industry Research Grants Research Students. Secretary's Tours Collection and Supply of Information Publications Annual Report of the Director, Technological Laboratory .36 37 38 43 43 43 45 APPENDICES. 58 1. Bombay Notification under the Cotton Transport Act II. Opinions of Billowners regarding working of the Cotton Trans. port Act 68 59 III. Madras Notification under the Cotton Transport Act IV. Press Marks prescribed for the different Provinces and Indian States .. 61 63 V. Summary of the Reports on the Khandesh, Berar and North Gujerat Investigations VI. Spinning Tests on Indian Cottons ml. Annual Report of the Director, Indore Institute of Plant Industry. 136 143 corre

·iv
APPENDICES-contd.
Page.
VIII. Programme of future work of the Indore Institute of Plant
Industry
153
155
IX. Technical Note on the Various Provincial Research Schemes
X. List of Research Students
162
XI. Progress in the Introduction of Improved Varieties of Cotton
in Various Provinces
164

·ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INDIAN CENTRAL COTTON COMMITTEE, BOMBAY, FOR THE YEAR 1926. THE Central Cotton Committee was constituted by Resolution No 404 22, dated the 31st of March 1921, of the Government of India in the Department of Revenue and Agriculture and was originally an Advisory Committee With the passing of the Cotton Cess Act the Committee was permanently incorporated and provided with funds of its own for the promotion of research for the improvement of cotton growing The Committee's activities, therefore, fall into two main groups In the first place it continues to advise the Government of India and Local Governments on matters connected with the improvement of cotton growing and cotton marketing-particularly on measures designed to prevent abuses and malpractices In this capacity the Committee not only deals with such references as are made to it by Government, but continues to take the initiative in bringing to the notice of Government matters which require attention 2 Apart from its more formal activities the value of the Committee as a common meeting ground for all sections of the cotton industry is steadily becoming more apparent In the administration of the cotton cess funds the Committee provides for research for the benefit of cotton growing in India as a whole, and this aspect of its work is steadily becoming more important. PERSONNEL 3 Under Rule 3 of the Indian Cotton Cess Rules, members of the Committee hold office for three years and one third of the ·2 members retire each year in rotation. The membership for 1926 was as follows: 1. PRESIDENT.-Dr. D. Clouston, C.I.E., Agricultural Adviser, to the Government of India, ex-officio. 2. REPRESENTATIVES OF AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS. Madras Mr. R. D. Anstead, C.I.E., Director of Agriculture. Bombay Dr. H. H. Mann, Director of Agriculture. United Provinces Mr. G. Clarke, C.I.E., Director of Agriculture. (Dr. A. E. Parr, from 16th June 1926 to 4th January 1927.) Punjab Mr. D. Milne, C.I.E., Director of Agriculture. Central Provinces Mr. F. J. Plymen, Director of Agriculture. (Mr. R. G. Allan, from 16th June 1926 to 21st December 1926.) Burina Mr. H. F. Robertson, Deputy Director of Agriculture. 3. THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE AND STATISTICS, ex-officio. 4. REPRESENTATIVES OF CHAMBERS COMMERCE AND ASSOCIATIONS. The East India Cotton Association Mr. W. Ellis Jones, M.L.C. OF ·The Bombay Millowners' Association Mr. J. A. Kay,* M.L.C. (Vice- President). (Succeeded by Mr. S. D. Saklatvala from March). The Bombay Chamber of Commerce Mr. V. A. Grantham, M.L.C. (Succeeded by Mr. J. A. Kay from March). The Indian Merchants' Chamber, Bombay.. Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas, Kt., C.I.E., M.B.E., M.L.A. (Mr. Lalji Naranji, M.L.C., from December 3rd, 1925, to September 26th, 1926). Karachi Chamber of Commerce Mr. G. C. R. Coleridge. Ahmedabad Millowners' Association .. Seth Kasturbhai Lalbhai, J.L.A. Tuticorin Chamber of Commerce Mr. G. Z. Meli. (Mr. H. T. Cartwright from Jay 17th to December 10th, 1926). Upper India Chamber of Commerce Mr. Bertram est. The Empire Cotton Growing Corporation. Mr. W. Roberts. 5 & 6. COMMERCIAL REPRESENTATIVES XOJASATED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. Central Provinces MIr. S. B. Jlebta, C.L.E. Rai Bahadur K S. Sayude, JI.L.C. Madras Mr. H. F.P. Hearm. Now Sir Joseph A. Kas,..

·* Punjab Rai Bahadur Seth Prabhu Dayal, M.B.E. Bengal.. Mr. B. K. Lahiri. 7. CO-OPERATIVE REPRESENTATIVE-Mr. B. F. Madon. 8. REPRESENTATIVES OF COTTON GROWERS. Madras M. R. Ry. R. Appaswamy Naidu Garu. M. R. Ry. B. P. Sesha Reddi Garu. Bombay Rao Bahadur Bhimbhai Ranchodji Naik, M.L.C.(Surat). Bakhshi Darshan Singh (Sind). United Provinces Kunwar Bikram Singh of Pisawah, NI.L.C. Rai Saheb MI.Amba Prasad, M.L.C. Punjab Mr.. H. T. Conville. Sardar Ujjal Singh, M.A. Central Provinces and Berar Rao Saheb V. G. Kulkarni, M.L.C. Mr. N. V. Deshmukh. 9, 10 & 11. REPRESENTATIVES OF INDIAN STATES. Hyderabad State Mr. Mazhar Hussain, Director of Agriculture. Baroda State Mr. Manilal B. Nanavati, Director of Commerce and Industries. Gwalior State Mr. Hiralal H. Pandya, Administrative Officer, Department of Agriculture. Rajputana and Central India States. Mr. A. Howard, C.I.E., Director of the Institute of Plant Industry, Indore.

·5 THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL ADDITIONAL MEMBERS NOMINATED BY IN COUNCIL, 1. Dr. W. Youngman, Economic Botanist for Cotton, Central Provinces. 2. Mr. G. H. Krumbiegel, Representative of the Mysore State. 3. Mr. G. R. Hilson, Cotton Specialist, Madras. 4. Mr. K. G. Reshimwale, Representative of the Indore State. 5. Rao Saheb Bhimbhai M. Desai, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Gujerat, Surat. SECRETARY (appointed by the Government of India) Mr. B. C. Burt, B.Sc., M.B.E., I.A.S. DEPUTY SECRETARY-Mr. W. J. Jenkins, M.A., B.Sc., I.A.S. 4. There were several changes in the membership of the Committee during the year. Mr. V. A. Grantham, representative of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce on the Committee since its inception in 1921 and the first Vice-President retired in March 1926 on leaving India. He was succeeded by Dr. (now Sir Joseph) Kay whose place as representative of the Bombay Millowners' Association was taken by Mr. S. D. Saklatvala, another past President of the Millowners' Association, who had served on the @ommittee in 1924. 6. During Dr. Clouston's absence on special duty as Liaison Officer with the Royal Commission on Agriculture, Dr. W. H. Harrison, Officiating Agricultural Adviser, acted as President of the Committee. 6. Mr. (now Sir Joseph) Kay was unanimously re-appointed Vice-President of the Committee for the year 1926-27.

·6.
Sub-Commitlees.
7. The following members were appointed to form the Standing
Finance Sub-Commiltec required by the Indian Cotton Cess Rules :-
Vr. T. A. Kay, M.L.C., Vice-President and Chairman,
(C2-officio).
Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas, Kt., C.I.E., M.B.E., M.L.A.
Jr. B. F. Vadon. (Succeeded by Seth Kasturbhai Lalbhai).
Rao Bahadur Bhimbhai Ranchodji Naik.
Ir. W. Ellis Jones.
Jr. G. C. R. Coleridge.
Dr. H. H. Mann.
Mr. V. A. Grantham, NI.L.C. (Succeeded by Mr. S. D.
Saklatvala).
The Standing Finance Sub-Committee held thirteen meetings
during the year.
8. The Local Sub-Committee during the year consisted of the
following members :-
Mr. J. A. Kay (Vice-President),
Mr. V. A. Grantham, (until March),
DIr. S. D. Saklatvala,
Mr. W. Ellis Jones,
Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas,
Mr. G. C. R. Coleridge,
Seth Kasturbhai Lalbhai,
Mr. G. Z. Meli,
Rao Bahadur Bhimbhai Ranchodji Naik,
Dr. H. H. Mann, and
Mr. Manilal B. Nanavati.

·The object of this Sub Committee, which includes all members of the Central Cotton Committee living in or near Bombay, is to deal with matters of general importance in the interim between meetings of the full Committee, to the meetings all members of the Central Committee who may be visiting Bombay are invited This Sub- Committee has again performed most valuable work not only in dealing with various references from Government which required prompt attention but in the detailed examination of many matters dealt with by the Central Committee to which the Local Sub Committee reports The appointment of a Special Sub Committee to deal with matters arising out of the Cotton Ginning and Pressing Factories Act has relieved the Local Sub Committee of a certain amount of work, nevertheless it has been fully occupied with the details of the various matters of importance which have come before the Committee This Sub Committee held five meetings during the year 9 10 Cotton Ginning and Pressing Factories Sub Committee The Committee was appointed on July 6th, 1925, for the purposes of Section 2(f) of the Cotton Ginning and Pressing Factories Act The membership for 1926 was as follows (1) The Vice President, Chairman (ex officio), NIr J A Kay. (2) Five members representing the cotton trade who are residents of the Bombay Presidency Mr V A Grantham (succeeded by Nr S D Sahlatvala) Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas, Mr W. Ellis Jones, Mr G Z Neli, and N. GCR Coleridge ·S (3) Four 11-country members :--- laurus.Ur. H. F. P. Jimarapii. Dimitril Proriners-)r. Bertrani V'cst. lilijahı-Rui Baharlur Seth Prabhu Dayal. Central Provinces (1) Berar Mr. S. B. Ichta. (4) The Co-operative Representative-Ur. B. F. Madon. The Sub-Committee dealt with a number of questions in rouard in the working of the set to which reference is made in a later section of the report ; seren meetings of the Sub-Committee were held during the year. Special Slanina Suls-Committec on the Finance of the Cotton Crop Up-country. 11. The members of this Sub-Committee for the year were :- Mr. J. A. Kay, Vice-President and Chairman, (ex-officio). Dr. H. H. Mann. DIr. 11. Ellis Joncs, and Mr. B. T. Diadon, The Sub-Committee held tlırec meetings, framed the questionnaire and instructions to investigators for the village investigations and considered the detailed results reported. Agricultural Research Sub-Committee. 12. This Sub-Committee meets in conjunction with meetings of the full Committee and examines research proposals, the progress reports on research schemes and the reports of research students. The Committee for 1926 consisted of the following members :- Dr. D. Clouston (President), Mr. J. A. Kay, (Vice-President), Mr. A. Howard (Director of the Institute of Plant Industry, Indore), ·9 Jr. B. F. Madon (Co-operative Representative), Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas, Kt., (Cotton Trade Representative), Mr. H. T. Conville (Cotton Grovers' Representative), Dr. H. H. Mann, Mr. D. Milne, Dr. W. Youngman, Representatives of Agricultural Departments. Mr. R. D. Anstead, Mr. G. R. Hilson, Mr. Trevor Trought, Co-opted members. and The Secretary. L'echnological Research Sub-Committee. 13. This Sub-Committee meets in connection with meetings of the Central Committee, and also at other times when necessary, to discuss matters arising out of the Committee's arrangements, for technological research and to advise the Central Cotton Committee and the Director of the Laboratory on the management and development of the Committee's Technological Research Laboratory. The Sub- Committee for 1926 consisted of the following members :-- The Vice-President (Dr. J. A. Kay). Mr. S. B, Mehta, Dr. H. H. Mann. Mr. D. Milne. Mr. Bertram Vest. MIr, A. Hovard. Setli Kasturbhai Lalbhai. The Secretary, and the Director, Technological Research Laboratory.

·10 Selection Sub-Committees. 14. Selection Sub-Committees as required by the Indian Cotton Cess Rules were appointed from time to time to deal with appointments on the staff of the Committee. The Research Students' Selection Sub-Committee met as usual in January 15. As is only natural for a body of 42 members, much of the detailed work of the Committee was carried out through the medium of the Sub-Committees referred to above. To the gentlemen who served on these sub-committees and, in particular, to those members of the commercial community in Bombay, who again have given so freely of their time to the furtherance of the Committee's work, much of the success which has attended the Committee's labours is due. MEETINGS. 16. The Central Cotton Committee met twice during the year, viz., on January 11th to 14th and July 5th to 7th and, as will be seen from the summary of the proceedings which follows, a good deal of useful work was done. At the July meeting, owing to the President's absence on special duty connected with the Royal Commission on Agriculture, Dr. W. H. Harrison, Officiating Agricultural Advisor to the Government of India, presided. The Committee has recently been able to secure an addition to their premises which enables all meetings of the Committee and of Sub- Committees once more to be held in its own rooms. The January meeting was held in the Committee room of the Bombay Secretariat again kindly placed at our disposal by the Government of Bombay.

·11 STAFF. 17. With the approval of the Government of India Mr. W.J. Jenkins, I A S. (previously Deputy Director of Agriculture, North Central Division, Bombay Presidency), was appointed Deputy Secretary to the Committee from May 27th, 1926 Mr. Burt went on short leave from July 11th, 1926, Mr W. J Jenkins, IAS, officiating as Secretary Mr Turner, Director, Technological Research Laboratory, was on leave combined with duty in England for a total period of 6 months from April 26th, 1926, and Mr WGP Wall, MSc, IES, whose services were kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee by the United Provinces Government, officiated as Director during Mr. Turner's absence Mr. Richardson held charge of the office of Spinning Master, Technological Laboratory, throughout the year. Messrs. Sen, Dutt, Hari Rao and Bathija, Research Assistants, Technological Laboratory, held charge of their respective offices throughout the year save for short periods of leave Reference to increase in the staff of the Technological Laboratory will be found in the Director's report (page 46). Cotlon Research Botanist - Mr Trevor Trought, Cotton Research Botanist, Punjab, held charge of his post throughout the year. 18 Provincial and Local Cotton Committees - Provincial Cotton Committees continued to do useful work and meetings were held as follows: Madras One. United Provinces Nil. Central Provinces and Berar One. Punjab Tro. Burma One. .. • ·12 In Bengal a Sub-Committee of the Provincial Board of Agriculture deals with cotton matters. In Bombay no Provincial Cotton Committee has yet been appointed and several matters which normally would be dealt with by such a Committee were referred by the Government of Bombay to the Central Cotton Committee and dealt with mainly by their Local Sub-Committee. Other local cotton matters are dealt with by the Divisional Cotton Committees appointed by the Government of Bombay which met during the year as follours :- Sind Once. Gujerat Twice. Khandesh Tour times. Southern Division, Dharvar Once. In Madras, Local Cotton Committees exist for the following areas :-Nandyal, Bellary, Guntur, Tuticorin and Tiruppur. CHAPTER II. THE WORK OF THE YEAR. THE COTTON TRANSPORT ACT. 19. BOMBAY.—This Act was in force in the Bombay Presidency throughout the year in the following areas :- In Gujerat three protected areas were maintained, viz : The South-Surat zone, the Surat zone, and the Olpad Ankleshwar zone. In the Southern Division also three protected areas were maintained, viz: The Kumpta-Dharwar zone, the Bijapur zone, and the Bagalkot zone.

·13 In this Presidency the restrictions apply to the transport of cotton (kapas and seed) by road as well as by rail. The enforcement of the restrictions on transport by road between the three comparatively small Surat zones has always presented some difficulty, but these restrictions were necessary so long as a definite area of inferior cotton existed in the Olpad taluqa. The replacement of short-stapled varieties by the improved variety 1027 A.L.F. having made considerable progress--and the active cooperation of the Co-operative Society in the tract between the Tapti and Nerbada in this policy having now been secured-the Government of Bombay withdrew the restrictions on the transport of cotton by road between the South-Surat, Surat and Olpad- Ankleshwar zones on August 10th, 1926, the first crop to be affected by the changed condition being that to be harvested in March- April 1927. It has been made a condition of the concession that the amending notification will be cancelled if inferior cotton is found to be grown in any of the protected areas. The restrictions on the transport of cotton by rail between the 3 zones have been maintained. (For amending notification see Appendix I.) The question of applying the Act to the protection of a Broach area is still under consideration. 20. BARODA.-The Baroda Government continued to enforce a similar law and maintained three zones corresponding with the Bombay protected areas. 21. RAJPIPLA.-—The Rajpipla State also maintained in force a State law on the same lines as the India Act, the whole State being constituted as one area since it now grows one improved variety of cotton. The history of Rajpipla cotton provides an excellent example of what can be done by the exclusion of inferior cotton coupled with the systematic introduction of superior seed. Some years ago, the cotton of this State was almost a drug on the market.

·14 Since then the Surat 1027 variety has been steadily introduced and in this way, with the assistance of the cotton Transport Act and of State control of the ginning factories, the standard of Rajpipla cotton las licen raised to cqual that of the best Surat. On the recommendation of the Indian Central Cotton Committee the East Lucia Cotton Issociation introcluced special standards for Rajpipla cotton in Bombay from June 1st, 1925. 22. Most definite information has been received from all sources as to the value of the Act in improving and maintaining the quality of the cottons grown in these areas. The opinions of millowners, which are reproduced in Appendix II, shoir very definitely that since the Act was brought into force Indian mills have been able to purchase more freely of these stapled Indian cottons. Further, the trade records indicate that the improved quality of the cottons lias been reflected in the prices paid. Local enquiry in the districts shows that enhanced prices have been realised by the cultivators. In the southern part of the Presidency the Act has continued to rrork smoothly. Such complaints of mixing as are now received refer to the mixing of ordinary Dharwar-American cotton with the Agricultural Department's improved strain of Upland, the mixing of ordinary Kumpta with the Departinent's pure strain of improved Kumpta and the mixing of Kumpta and Upland cottons. This question should largely settle itself as the areas under the improved varieties extend, and there is no doubt that the grosser forms of adulteration, such as the mixing of short-stapled Khandesh cotton, or Bombay mill waste, with valued stapled cottons, have been stopped. 23. MADRAS.—The Cotton Transport Act was put into force in the Madras Presidency by notification No. 344 of the 18th of November 1925 approved by resolution of the Madras Legislative Council on August 26th, 1925, a copy of the notification will be found in Appendix III.

·15 In the Northerns and Westerns area the notification appears to have worked smoothly and to have achieved the desired object. Certain difficulties, however, have arisen over the administration of the Act in the South. Satisfactorily to protect the more important staple cotton areas it would be desirable to replace the two esisting zones, viz: the Tiruppur-Cambodia and Tinnevelly zones by four, viz: a smaller Tiruppur-Cambodia zone, a Dindigul zone embracing the tract south of the Tiruppur-Cambodia zone, a Tinnevelly area and a Salems area. This course apparently would not immediately be practicable, and a less complete division is all that can be attempted at present. In particular the necessity of allowing kapas to move freely from the country around Dindigul both to Tiruppur and to Virudhunagar (situated in the Tiruppur-Cambodia and Tinnevelly zones respectively) has been strongly urged. The matter has been fully discussed both in the Central Cotton Committee and in the Madras Provincial Cotton Committee and the present zones will be revised in the light of the experience gained. As to the need of the Cotton Transport Act in Madras to keep out such thoroughly inferior cottons as Pulichai (G. neglectum roseum) and Mysore-American from the staple cotton tracts and to keep Coconadas cotton out of the Northerns and Westerns area there is little or no difference of opinion. The degree to which the organisation can be elaborated to assist the Agricultural Department's efforts to establish compact blocks of superior cottons is a point on which there is less unanimity and here it will be necessary to progress gradually, due regard being given at each stage to the legitimate requirements of the cotton trade, to the existence of suitable markets and to the adequacy of ginning facilities in the various tracts. 21. It is with regret that the Committee record that no action has yet been taken by the Government of the Central Prorinces ·16 and Berar to give effect to the recommendations made by the Indian Central Cotton Committee and by the Central Provinces Provincial Cotton Committee in 1923 that protected areas should be created in the Central Provinces and Berar, respectively, to prevent the abuses which take place at present. REGULATION OF GINS AND PRESSES. 25. The Cotton Ginning and Pressing Factories Act, which was passed by the Indian Legislature in March 1925, came into force on August 8th of that year and hence has been in force for the whole of the cotton season 1925-26. The Central Cotton Committee devoted considerable attention to the marking of bales, the central feature of the Act, and it is satisfactory to record that no serious difficulties have been met with in complying with the rules. At the commencement the majority of presses used hand punches for applying the press mark to the central hoop (the hoops being stamped before pressing) but two suitable punching machines, both inexpensive, were rapidly put on the market and the use of such machines is steadily increasing. Once pressing factories settled down to the fact that they had to mark their hoops little difficulty was experienced. No cases have come to the notice of any member of the Committee where the punching of the press-mark on the hoop has resulted in the weakening of the hoop or of burst bales during pressing. 26. Some delay occurred before all presses marked their bales systematically. Returns were obtained from various members of the Committee and from the East India Cotton Association of places from which unmarked bales were still being received and the attention of the Provincial authorities called to the matter. There has been steady improvement in the marking of bales and a further incentive to careful compliance with the law has been afforded by ·17 the new bye-law of the East India Cotton Association which is quoted below: - Bye-law 53 (1). Against the Hedge contracts shown in column (1) of Schedule B, the contracts shown in the corresponding column (2) and the cotton pressed only at the places enumerated in the corresponding column (3), subject to such modifications as the Board may from time to time make thereon against each contract, shall alone constitute a fair tender provided that:- (1) It is of the description sold and provided that if pressed after 1st September 1926 ut bcars press marks in conformity with the provisions of the Cotton Ginning and Pressing Factories Act of 1925 : or with the law in force for the marking of bales in any Indian State." This bye-law is in accordance with Section 14 of the Act which provides that after the expiration of one year from the commencement of the Act any person who has made a contract for the purchase of baled cotton may require that no bales other than bales marked in accordance with the Act shall be supplied in fulfilment of such contract and may refuse to accept bales which are not so marked. This section became effective on the 8th of August 1926 and hence for the cotton season commencing September 1st of that year. 27. The rules under the Act leave to the owner of a pressing factory the option of marking the running number on the bale either by punching it on the central hoop or by stencilling it on the lessian on the flat side of the bale. Most press-owners have adopted the latter alternative but, for the better protection of the reputation of their presses, some press-owners who balc cotton both for the ves and for other clients have decided to punch the running nunta on the loops, especially in the case of clients' cotton. On the radi, ·18 4 the running numbers on the lession have been found satisfactory.. Some complaints have been received that the punch marks on the hoops are small and not casily found, but any minor inconvenience in this respect is of less importance than the considerations which led the Central Cotton Committee to decide that the press mark should be placed on the hoop for, in view of Section 14 of the Act, it is essential that so long as a bale of cotton remains a merchantable bale so long shall it bear the mark of the press. A few instances of difficulty, owing to secondhand hoops having been used, have been reported, but in no case is it clear that any real confusion has arisen on this account. In the first place new hoops are insisted upon by most buyers when the cotton is for export and secondly a very large number of pressing factories use only new hoops. Secondhand hoops are sold periodically by Indian mills and are purchased by those press-owners who use secondhand hoops but in the majority of cases, there is little likelihood of a hoop being used twice in the same season, though such a possibility exists in the case of cotton purchased locally by up-country mills. The remedy lies largely in the hands of buyers, (i.e., of the mills) since they are entitled to insist that cotton delivered to them shall be correctly marked. Further, with very little trouble mills could ensure that no marked hoops leave the mill compound in time to be used again during the same season. Many mills ordinarily use up marked hoops for other purposes, such as piece-goods bales, thus avoiding their return to the market. There appears to be no reason for any modification in the present rules for the marking of bales. 28. It is satisfactory to record that a number of Indian States have taken steps to put similar legislation into force. In order to avoid confusion the Central Cotton Committee drew up a list of press marks proposed for the various States which, after certain alterations to meet the wishes of certain States, has been approved by the Government of India and has been adopted. In Appendix ·19 IV will be found the press marks prescribed for the different provinces and different States. The marking of bales has already been adopted by the following States :- Alipura, Alwar, Baroda, Cambay, Hyderabad (since the close of the year), Jaipur, Jodhpur, Katosan, Nabha and Rajpipla. The Baroda State have passed a law on the lines of the Cotton Ginning and Pressing Factories Act and this law is already in force. The Rajpipla State had previously passed a Cotton Improvement Act which, in several respects, goes considerably further than the Cotton Ginning and Pressing Factories Act; they have therefore made rules under their own Act prescribing the marking of bales, the returns and records following the same lines as the system in force in British India. Other States, almost without exception, have replied that they are prepared to take action on the lines of the Cotton Ginning and Pressing Factories Act. In the Indore State the Act and Rules will come into force on September 1st, 1927, and the Hyderabad State has accepted the principle of the marking of bales, but still has under consideration the question of whether their own Act should provide for the licensing of gins and presses. By the end of the present cotton season it is expected that practically all Indian States will have brought their rules into force. It will be observed that the bye-lavr passed by the East India Cotton Association is so vorded as to provide that baled cotton from any Indian State which has introduced rules for the marking of bales must be marked in accordance with such rules in order to be tenderable.

·20 29. The weekly statements of cotton pressed throughout British India, which the compulsory returns under the Act have now rendered possible, commenced in September 1925 and these returns have already proved of great value both to the cotton trade and to Agricultural Departments. The value of these returns will increase as time goes on as comparison with the figures for the previous year will enable the cotton trade to gauge the progress of the marketing of the crop, thus affording most important independent statistics as well as a supplement to the provincial cotton forecasts. As a check on the cotton forecasts the present returns have already proved of value since they have enabled the sources of important errors in Sind and the Punjab to be traced to their source and steps taken to prevent a repetition of such errors in future years. In both cases the pressing returns showed that the production had been considerably under-estimated. In Sind the error in forecasting was due to imperfect returns from the districts concerned- both of areas and condition. In the case of the Punjab the analysis of the figures of different trade blocks showed that much larger quantities of cotton had been pressed than the forecast yields indicated. In one block the fact was brought to light, that owing to a recent extension of irrigation facilities, the Ferozepore district has become much more important as a cottongrowing area than previously, and the conventional estimates have now been replaced by regular returns as in other districts. In the Multan block the discrepancy was partly due to cotton from Indian States coming into British territory for pressing and partly to the yield from the late pickings having been much larger than was expected when the final forecast was issued. The following Indian States are now sending in regular weekly returns of cotton pressed : Nabha, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Alipura, Rajpipla and Baroda. Here also it is hoped that by the beginning of the cotton season 1927-28 all the more important cotton-growing States will have come into line with British India in this important matter.

·21 30. In connection with the prevention of malpractices the need for the present Act has been exemplified during the year. Complaints had been received for over a year of the unsatisfactory quality of Sind and Sind-Punjab desi cotton which had been sold to the Continent, the principal complaint being in regard to the unreasonable quantity of seed, and even of unginned kapas, present in such cotton. The matter was taken up by the Bremen Cotton Exchange with the International Federation of Master Cotton Spinners' and Manufacturers' Associations and both organisations communicated with the Central Cotton Committee on the subject. This type of desi cotton, which is of short staple, is used, amongst other purposes, for the manufacture of coarse hosiery yarn and the presence of seed in the cotton not only causes considerable difficulties in spinning but frequently makes the yarn unsuitable for the purpose intended. The buyers reported details of the press marks on the bales complained of which enabled the cotton to be traced to the factory where it was pressed which, in this particular instance, proved to be a factory belonging to the exporting firm. The matter was taken up with the exporters and it is probable that the publicity that has been given to this complaint will result in its being remedied. 31. Tivo other abuses which are still of great importance are the mixing of Punjab-American cotton with short staple cotton, and the watering of cotton in presses, more particularly in the Central Provinces and Berar. These subjects are receiving attention; it is sufficient to say here that the Cotton Ginning and Pressing Factories Act places a buyer in a much better position to protect himself against unsatisfactory cotton of this description than be previously occupied. COTTON STATISTICS. 32. Reference has already been made to the valuable statistics nor provided through the medium of the Cotton Ginning ·20 29. The weekly statements of cotton pressed throughout British India, which the compulsory returns under the Act have now rendered possible, commenced in September 1925 and these returns have already proved of great value both to the cotton trade and to Agricultural Departments. The value of these returns will increase as time goes on as comparison with the figures for the previous year will enable the cotton trade to gauge the progress of the marketing of the crop, thus affording most important independent statistics as well as a supplement to the provincial cotton forecasts. As a check on the cotton forecasts the present returns have already proved of value since they have enabled the sources of important errors in Sind and the Punjab to be traced to their source and steps taken to prevent a repetition of such errors future years. In both cases the pressing returns showed that the production had been considerably under-estimated. In Sind the error in forecasting was due to imperfect returns from the districts concerned both of areas and condition. In the case of the Punjab the analysis of the figures of different trade blocks showed that much larger quantities of cotton had been pressed than the forecast yields indicated. In one block the fact was brought to light, that owing to a recent extension of irrigation facilities, the Ferozepore district has become much more important as a cottongrowing area than previously, and the conventional estimates have now been replaced by regular returns as in other districts. In the Multan block the discrepancy was partly due to cotton from Indian States coming into British territory for pressing and partly to the yield from the late pickings having been much larger than was expected when the final forecast was issued. The following Indian States are now sending in regular weekly returns of cotton pressed :- Nabha, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Alipura, Rajpipla and Baroda. Here also it is hoped that by the beginning of the cotton season 1927-28 all the more important cotton-growing States will have come into line with British India in this important matter.

·21 30 In connection with the prevention of malpractices the need for the present Act has been exemplified during the year Complaints had been received for over a year of the unsatisfactory quality of Sind and Sind Punjab desi cotton which had been sold to the Continent, the principal complaint being in regard to the unreasonable quantity of seed, and even of unginned kapas, present in such cotton The matter was taken up by the Bremen Cotton Exchange with the International Federation of Master Cotton Spinners' and Manufacturers' Associations and both organisations communicated with the Central Cotton Committee on the subject This type of desi cotton, which is of short staple, is used, amongst other purposes, for the manufacture of coarse hosiery yarn and the presence of seed in the cotton not only causes considerable difficulties in spinning but frequently makes the yard unsuitable for the purpose intended The buyers reported details of the press marhs on the bales complained of which enabled the cotton to be traced to the factory where it was pressed which, in this particular instance, proved to be a factory belonging to the exporting firm The matter was taken up with the exporters and it is probable that the publicity that has been given to this complaint will result in its being remedied. Two other abuses which are still of great importance are the mixing of Punjab American cotton with short staple cotton, and the watering of cotton in presses, more particularly in the Central Provinces and Berar These subjects are receiving attention, it is sufficient to say here that the Cotton Ginning and Pressing Factories Act places a buyer in a much better position to protect himself against unsatisfactory cotton of this description than ho previously occupied COTTON STATISTICS 32 Reference has already been made to the valuable statistics now provided throngh the medium of the Cotton Ginning 31 ·22 210 and Pressing Tactories Act. Voluntary returns of loose cotton received in spinning mills are now regularly received from the principal cotton provinces and several States. 33. The Government of India has accepted the recommendation of the Central Cotton Committee that the internal rail-borne trade returns for cotton should be re-established and arrangements for the publication of these in the Indian Trade Journal have recently been made. It is as well to emphasise that the rail-borne trade returns of comparatively little direct use for trade purposes, though the new method of compilation and publication may increase their value in this respect. The real value of these statistics is the means which they afford to Directors of Agriculture, and other officers responsible for the preparation of cotton forecasts, of checking the basis of their forecasts by means of independent figures which enable the total production in certain blocks to be calculated. References to the statistics of cotton consumption published with the final cotton forecasts by the Director-General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics show that even when allowance is made for the changes in Bombay stocks from year to year (and it should not be forgotten that such stocks may vary by as much as half-amillion bales) the amount of cotton consumed in India and exported has generally been considerably larger than the estimated crop. As there is no means of testing the accuracy of the conventional figure adopted for non-mill consumption, it is impossible to check the crop forecasts properly from consumption figures. But if it be assumed that non-mill consumption does not vary greatly from year to year, it will be seen that there is a considerable error in the forecasts generally, though not always, in the direction of underestimation. With the help of the cotton press returns and the new rail-borne trade statistics it is hoped that the various sources of error will be located, thus enabling an improvement to be effected in the accuracy of the forecasts.

·23 34. The Central Cotton Committee publishes a monthly state ment of the consumption of Indian cotton consumed in Indian milli based on returns received under the Cotton Cess Act and direct returns received from the Indian States mainly concerned. FINANCE OF THE COTTON CROP. 35. As indicated in the last report it was decided to undertake local investigations in four areas, viz., Khandesh, Berar, Nort Gujerat and the Northerns and Westerns area in Madras. These investigations have now been completed and the reports considered by the Committee. The village investigations were directed to ascertaining certain details from each cotton grower in each of the villages selected for the enquiry as being typical of the tract under investigation. Replies were received from the following numbers of individual cultivators in each tract:- Khandesh 813 Berar .. 940 North Gujerat 1,065 Madras Northerns and Westerns 758 The borrowings of each cultivator, the source of the loan, tho interest paid, the conditions of the loan, details of the crop produced, of the method of sale, of the prices obtained and of the time of sale were recorded. The views of cultivators on their marketing difficulties were also elicited and, particularly in Berar and Khandesh, a good deal of first-hand information was obtained as to the working of the local cotton markets. In addition the investigators themselves visited the markets and obtained details of the disposal of a large number of individual cart-loads of kapasboth of those brought in by cultivators themselves and those brought in by middlemen. The most outstanding results were those obtained from Khandesli and Berar where the investigations were well carried out and the results fully worked up. Thc North ·24 Gujerat enquiry also gave considerable information of importance, but owing to the fact that the area chosen produces Wagad cotton (the closed boll variety), a complicating factor, viz., the sale of bolls, was introduced which rendered it difficult to generalise from results recorded. Nevertheless, in addition to providing local information of real value, this enquiry in several respects confirmed the conclusions arrived at from the Khandesh and Berar investigations. 36. In the Madras Northerns and Westerns area the investigation was carried out under somewhat different conditions. For the tlıree tracts referred to above a wholetime staff, the cost of which was met by a grant froin the Committee, was employed. In Madras an attempt was made to obtain the necessary information through the medium of agricultural assistants engaged on district work without relieving them of their own duties. As a result only a portion of the enquiry could be completed and while most useful information in regard to cotton growers' borrowings was obtained the data on sales were entirely inadequate owing to the agricultural assistants being very fully engaged on other duties. Hence it has been decided to repeat this investigation with a full-time staff next year. 37. In Appendix V will be found a summary of the reports on the Khandesh, Berur and North Gujerat investigations but a few of the broader conclusions may be referred to here. In the first place it was definitely shown that in Khandesh and Berar the sale in advance of the standing crop, forward sales on any considerable scale and the mortgaging of the crop are now practically unknown, It was also established that although cultivators had borrowed considerable amounts from money-lenders and Co-operative Societies for the financing of their agricultural operations, they were not hampered by their borrowings in disposing of their crop to ·25 what they considered the best advantage. Further in a large majority of cases, both in Khandesh and Berar, the moneylenders were not purchasers of kapas. It has generally been assumed that the cotton grower stands in urgent need of money about the time when his crop is ready and is therefore driven to sell it at once even at unfavourable rates. This supposition, however, was not in accordance with the experience of some of the co-operative banks and was abundantly disproved by the facts elicited by local investigation. In Khandesh and Berar far from rushing their kapas to market growers were found to hold up their kapas for considerable periods presumably in the hope of an improvement in price and in many instances sales were not completed until March and April although, the crop having been distinctly an early one, picking had been completed about December. The crops of the year were not particularly good ones, prices on the whole were falling steadily and the general information obtained suggested that the earlier sales were made less through financial pressure than because the growers were not inclined to take risks. 38. The nett result of these enquiries may be summed up in the statement that what the cotton grower appears to need most, once his crop is ready for market, is better market organization and that finance at this stage is of secondary importance. 39. The two areas, Khandesh and Berar, which have so many general features in common were deliberately chosen because in Berar open cotton markets controlled by law have been in existence for many years, whilst in Khandesh such markets as exist are entirely unregulated. At various times critics of the Committee's proposals for open cotton markets have expressed considerable doubt as to the number of cotton growers actually using such markets. This question was investigated in two different ways. In the village enquiry the disposal of each cultivator's ·26 cotton was recorded ; in the market enquiry the source of every cart-load of cotton recorded was enquired into. The average for the Berar villages shows that the kapas of 53 per cent. of the cotton growers, and 68 per cent. of the total kapas sold in the period under investigation, was marketed in the open markets by the growers themselves. The market records showed that of the 2,343 individuals bringing kapas to market who were recorded, 2,050 or 86.5 per cent. were actual cotton-growers. This disposes at once of the contention that cotton growers do not use open cotton markets. 40. In Khandesh where the markets are unregulated, as might be expected, the proportion of cultivators who took their cotton to markets instead of selling locally to travelling middlemen or village dealers, was smaller than in Berar. The following table shows the actual percentages : Percentage of cultivators selling in :- Market. Village. Partly in Market and partiy in Village. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. West Khandesh 19 69.5 11:5 East Khandesh 8.5 91.5 On the whole, it may be said that the number of cultivators using such cotton markets as exist in Khandesh is considerably higher than was expected. The number of cultivators, who, at various times, had used such markets but had not done so this year, was considerable and it seems clear that if open cotton markets in Khandesh can be properly regulated they will be largely used by cotton growers. The cotton growers' objections to the unregulated markets as at present existing, may be summarised as follows. Great ·27 exception is taken to the system of secret bids and all growers urged that in cotton markets all bids should be open and the rates properly announced. Secondly, in many cases, the rates actually paid were not those settled in the markets. Both in Berar and Khandesh weighment usually takes place in the ginning factory and in Khandesh in particular the rate actually paid is really settled after weighment has taken place. The deductions, which are made after weighment has commenced, frequently are very substantial, and in a few cases were so heavy that the sellers took their hapas away. Such cases were rare and growers stated that they had to accept the rates paid even when they realised that they were unfair. A number of cultivators stated that although in the markets the weighments and prices are better than they can obtain in the village yet, owing to the disputes referred to above, they prefer to sell locally. In some of the Khandesh markets a number of other abuses seem to be prevalent and cultivators complain of unjustifiable deductions from weight and of deductions of various kinds, generally alleged to be for charities, from the price. 41. The major complaints about the Berar markets were not dissimilar to those in Khandesh. There was less complaint about Teighments or illegal deductions but complaints about disputes during weighment were almost as numerous. On the other hand rates were very much better known in Berar and cultivators, though not satisfied with the market management, realise that the markets are of advantage and use them accordingly. In their draft model rules for open cotton markets the Central Cotton Committee proposed a number of amendments to the present Berar rules, but it is now clear that even if the present rules were properly enforced the complaints would be infinitely fewer. The main need is to re-constitute the Market Committees for the Berar markets in such & way as to provide for representation of the cotton grower. At present the markets are managed almost entirely by buyers and their ·28 commission agents, an obviously one-sided arrangement. Another matter which would seem to require attention in any amendment to the Berar rules is the fact that in Berar at present the brokers (who are licensed by the Market Committee), who sell on behalf of the cultivator, are not independent selling brokers. It was represented that brokers who act for both sides invariably watch the buyers' interests. 42. Constructive action should be possible in one other direction. If a cotton grower who has brought his cotton some distance from the market is offered an unsatisfactory price he is at present obliged either to accept the price offered or to take his cotton away and the latter alternative is often impracticable. There seems to be a real need for some form of warehousing facilities at the markets to obviate this difficulty. Probably any such warehousing agency would also need to make advances to the grower against kapas deposited for sale. This is a matter which requires careful investigation in the light of local conditions. FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. 43. The Committee has decided to finance further investigations during the cotton season 1927-28 in four areas, viz., Sind, the Punjab, the North of the Broach cotton-tract and the Madras Northerns and Westerns area. It appears obvious that only by such local investigations, will the actual facts be obtained and it is only on such a basis of facts that constructive measures for the assistance of the cotton grower can be based. The results already obtained to a certain extent have been unexpected and for the areas investigated have revealed an unexpected degree of independence on the part of the cotton grower. It would be premature to draw general conclusions for the whole of India from investigations in three tracts.

·29 OPEN COTTON MARKETS. 44 In the preceding section detailed references have been made to open cotton markets in Berar and Khandesh Since the close of the year the Government of Bombay have published a Bombay (District) Cotton Markets Bill which will come before the Local Legislature shortly. The Bill follows in its essentials the recommendations of the Central Cotton Committee Information has also been received that the revision of the Central Provinces and Berar Cotton Market Rules is now under consideration and there is a hope that cotton markets in that province will now be placed on a more satisfactory footing , it should be stated that even now they are probably more satisfactory than those in any other part of India MARKETING OF IMPROVED VARILTIES OF COTTON 45 The Indian Central Cotton Committee has continued to devote attention to this aspect of cotton marketing Reference was made in last year's report to the need of obtaining for growers, during the early stages of the introduction of a new variety, the full price for the new product even while production has not reached a stage at which the new cotton will attract attention in the major cotton markets As was then stated, if an Agricultural Department is to succeed in organising the sced supply and in establishing a new cotton in compact areas, which is so essential to real progress, it needs to be in a position to assure to the grower an adequate reward for his enterprize If ner cottons are brought to their notice, there are numerous buyers in India who are willing to pay full prices for comparativ ely small lots, and in fact much of the progress made by the Agricultural Departments in the past has been due to the support given to them by indu iduals in this way The Central Cotton Committee endeavours to assist matters at this stage by the Provision of spinning test reports, which will indicate to consumers ·30 what the possibilities of the new cottons are, and also by circulating to the cotton trade information as to the areas under new types of cotton, the approximate quantity produced and the markets where they can be obtained. As was indicated last year probably the most difficult stage is reached when a new cotton has passed the scale at which the Agricultural Department can keep in personal touch with the growers but has not yet reached the stage of being generally kitown on the major markets. In addition to the steps referred to above the Committee in several instances has been able to assist Agricultural Departments in disposing of small quantities of superior cottons. 46. Another method adopted is to supply the East India, Liverpool and Manchester Cotton Associations with type bales of improved varieties of Indian cotton. Such type bales serve a double purpose for in the first place they bring new cottons to the notice of consumers and secondly, provide authentic types with which intending purchasers can compare the cottons offered to them through the usual trade sources. Both in India and abroad, especially the latter, Indian cottons are sold against private types which do not correspond either with the East India Cotton Association standards or with the Agricultural Department's nomenclature. It is considered impossible to interfere with this system of sale, which has become a well established feature of the Indian export trade, but it is practicable to place both producers and sellers in a position to compare private types with the Agricultural Department's own types. Such type bales are only supplied for cottons which have been established on a commercial scale. SPINNING TESTS. 47. More detailed reference to the tests which have been carried out on standard Indian cottons at the Technological Laboratory will be found in that section of the report and in the report of the ·31 Director: An Annual Bulletin on these tests is published, and arrangements have now been made to carry out such tests at an early stage in the harvesting of the crop of each season in order that the results may be available to the trade in India shortly after the cotton comes on to the market in quantity. The seasonal variation in the quality of particular growths of cotton is a recognised fact and the Technological Laboratory is steadily accumulating data showing the range of such variations from season to season. The tests referred to above are carried out on samples grown under the Agricultural Department's own control and which have probably been somewhat more carefully handled than commercial cottons. Hence these tests represent the behaviour in spinning of new cottons grown under good, if not optimum, conditions and may not be representative of the bulk of the crop. But they do indicate the variation in the same cotton grown from year to year under standard conditions and it is hoped that the results will be of interest to the trade and will assist in the marketing of new varieties, 48. Through the kind assistance of the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation and of the Oldham Master Cotton Spinners' Association, a further series of tests on improved Indian cottons capable of replacing Americans for many purposes have been carried out at Oldham under ordinary Lancashire mill conditions. These tests have confirmed in a most interesting manner the results obtained in the Technological Laboratory and indeed were more in the nature of a demonstration than an experiment. The results are reproduced in Appendix VI and show clearly that several of the Indian staple cottons are capable of replacing Americans. Temporarily this point has become of somethat academic interest since the record American crop of 1926, following the large crop of 1925, has assured on abundant supply of American cotton for English and European mills. Further, apparently as a result of a temporary shortage of stopled cotton in India the prices of Indian cottons have been considerably ·32 above American parity, and there has been an actual import into India of appreciable quantities of American cotton for use in Indian mills. Nevertheless the capabilities of these improved Indian cottons have now been established definitely, and it is probably only a matter of time before the export demand for them is renewed. THE LIVERPOOL EMPIRE FUTURES COTTON CONTRACT. 49. In last year's report reference was made to the new Empire Contract in Liverpool against which Indian cottons of approximately an inch in staple and of suitable grade are tenderable. Throughout the year the Central Cotton Committee has kept in very close touch with the development of this hedge contract and in last year's report it was stated that the new contract was of very limited application to Indian cottons for a variety of reasons. Whilst on leave the Secretary had an opportunity of placing before the Directors of the Liverpool Cotton Association the Committee's views on the contract and their suggestions for improvement. As at present framed the contract is a narrow one, since cotton to be tenderable must be of fair staple, equal to Strict Low Middling American in grade and not lower than Strict Low Middling American in value. The Empire contract, on account of the wider range of cotton tendered against it, naturally is at a small discount on the American futures contract, against which Low Middling American is tenderable, and there seems no reason why the Empire contract should be stricter than the Liverpool American contract. A further difficulty in practice is that no standards have been established for the Empire cottons tenderable against the Empire contract and hence such cottons have to be judged against American standards. This is unsatisfactory and instances are on record where a cotton, which otherwise would have been classed as points' on' for grade and staple, has been actually rejected on account of a difference in colour. An indication has already been received from the Liverpool Cotton Association that ·33 by the provision of a" franchise "any difficulty over the value clause of the contract might be obviated. The Central Cotton Committee have urged that in addition to this the contract should be broadened by admitting cotton not below Low Middling American in grade, and further have urged the importance of establishing a certain number of standards for Indian cotton against which Indian cottons tendered against the Empire contract would be judged. In the opinion of the Committee the Empire futures contract is not likely to be of real use to Indian exporters unless modifications on these lines are made. The Committee's views received a careful and sym: pathetic hearing from the Directors of the Liverpool Cotton Association, and it is understood that the question of amending the contract is now under consideration. Whether it will be found possible to make the alterations which the Central Cotton Committee have recommended cannot yet be stated, for it must be borne in mind that this contract is also intended for use as a hedge for such Empire cottons as Uganda which are considerably above Middling American in value on account of their superior staple. MEASURES TO PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MEXICAN BOLL VEEVIL. 50. As stated in last year's report a notification was issued by the Government of India under the Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914, restricting the importation of American cotton to one port for the whole of British India, viz., Bombay, and permitting it there only on condition of fumigation with Hydrocyanic acid gas. The notification came into force on 1st December 1923. It was originally intended to restrict importations to the fair weather scason (November 1st to May 31st), but in order to meet the needs of the Bombay mills, and as it was found that fumigation could be carried out effectively during the monsoon, this restriction was removed. During the fair-weather period American cotton is landed after fumigation at the special cotton wharf at Haji Bunder. During

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·35 Sample bales not exceeding six in number are fumigated at a special fee of Rs. 10 per bale. Subject to these exceptions the minimum fee for a consignment of American cotton is Rs. 150. 53. Since the close of the year American cotton importations have increased very greatly in volume owing partly, no doubt, to the large American cotton crop and low prices, but more particularly to the temporary shortage of certain classes of Indian staple cotton. The Committee has devoted much attention to ensuring that the charge to the importer shall be kept to an absolute minimum. The quantity of American cotton imported from December 1925 to October 1926 amounted to 43,501 bales; advices indicate that quantities as large as this will be handled during individual months during the coming season. Fumigation is supervised by an Assistant from the Committee's Technological Laboratory and carried out by a temporary staff of fumigating chemists provided by Government. 54. Owing to the larger American crops and the indications that boll weevil damage in America is now much less than in the past, the suggestion has been made that the fumigation of American cotton imported into India is no longer necessary. The fact should not, however, be overlooked that seasons of high and low intensity are a common feature of most insect pests. Further, there is little doubt that the reduction in damage caused to the American cotton crop by the boll weevil is largely due to the very extensive, and expensive, control measures adopted to fight this pest. Until it can be scientifically proved that there is no risk of the boll weevil reaching India alive, the interests of cotton-growing in India require that all necessary precautions should be taken to prevent the introduction into this country of what is probably the most destructiveinsect pest of recent years.

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·35 Sample bales not exceeding six in number are fumigated at a special fee of Rs. 10 per bale. Subject to these exceptions the minimum fec for a consignment of American cotton is Rs. 150. 53. Since the close of the year American cotton importations have increased very greatly in volume owing partly, no doubt, to the large American cotton crop and low prices, but more particularly to the temporary shortage of certain classes of Indian staple cotton. The Committee has devoted much attention to ensuring that the charge to the importer shall be kept to an absolute minimum. The quantity of American cotton imported from December 1925 to October 1926 amounted to 43,501 bales; advices indicate that quantities as large as this will be handled during individual months during the coming season. Fumigation is supervised by an Assistant from the Committee's Technological Laboratory and carried out by a temporary staff of fumigating chemists provided by Government. 54. Owing to the larger American crops and the indications that boll weevil damage in America is now much less than in the past, the suggestion has been made that the fumigation of American cotton imported into India is no longer necessary. The fact should not, however, be overlooked that seasons of high and low intensity are & common feature of most insect pests. Further, there is little doubt that the reduction in damage caused to the American cotton crop by the boll weevil is largely due to the very extensive, and expensive, control measures adopted to fight this pest. Until it can be scientifically proved that there is no risk of the boll weevil rcaching India alive, the interests of cotton-growing in India require that all necessary precautions should be taken to prevent the introduction into this country of that is probably the most destructiveinsect pest of recent years.

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·35 Sample bales not exceeding six in number are fumigated at a special fee of Rs. 10 per bale. Subject to these exceptions the minimum fee for a consignment of American cotton is Rs. 150. 63. Since the close of the year American cotton importations have increased very greatly in volume owing partly, no doubt, to the large American cotton crop and low prices, but more particularly to the temporary shortage of certain classes of Indian staple cotton. The Committee has devoted much attention to ensuring that the charge to the importer shall be kept to an absolute minimum. The quantity of American cotton imported from December 1925 to October 1926 amounted to 43,501 bales; advices indicate that quantities as large as this will be handled during individual months during the coming season. Fumigation is supervised by an Assistant from the Committee's Technological Laboratory and carried out by a temporary staff of fumigating chemists provided by Government. 64. Owing to the larger American crops and the indications that boll weevil damage in America is not much less than in the past, the suggestion has been made that the fumigation of American cotton imported into India is no longer necessary. The fact should not, however, be overlooked that seasons of high and low intensity are a common feature of most insect pests. Further, there is little doubt that the reduction in damage caused to the American cotton crop by the boll weevil is largely due to the very extensive, and expensive, control measures adopted to fight this pest. Until it can be scientifically proved that there is no risk of the boll weevil rcaching India alive, the interests of cotton-growing in India require that all necessary precautions should be taken to prevent the introduction into this country of what is probably the most destructive. inscct pest of recent years.

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·37 lished as early as possible in each season. As time goes on the value of these tests in facilitating the marketing of new varieties of cotton will become more apparent. 57. In the Research Laboratory considerable progress has been made with the scheme of work for the examination of the measurable characters of the cotton fibre and the correlation of such data with spinning tests. The importance of such work and its bearing on cotton breeding has been explained in previous reports and in the Committee's report on the “Present Position of Cotton Research in India." It is sufficient to say here that extensive data on the spinning properties of various cottons are being gradually built up in the course of the work of the laboratory and that at the same time data are being obtained for those fibre characters likely to have a bearing on spinning value with the object of correlating the two series of data and throwing some light on the relative importance of individual fibre characters. The second part of the work is laborious, methods and apparatus have to be designed and tested and the range of variation in each character determined. Several methods have now been worked out and are in regular use and methods for other determinations are under trial. 58. The Director of the Laboratory, Dir. Turner, was absent on leave during a portion of the year, part of the time being devoted to the study of the methods and apparatus adopted by similar Rescarch Institutes in England. The Committee, by formal resolution, recorded their appreciation of the excellent work done by the Officiating Director, Air. W. G. P. Wall, M.Sc., I.E.S., whose services were so kindly lent to the Committee by the United Provinces Government. 59. The Indore Institute of Plant Industrij.—The annual report of the Director will be found in Appendix VII together with a s upplementary report subsequently received. It will be seen that ·36 ROYAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE. 55. The Committee furnished the Commission with a memorandum outlining their constitution and aims and indicating the work accomplished and in progress. They also submitted written answers to those portions of the questionnaire issued by the Commission on which they were able to supply information or in regard to which it was possible for the Committee to put forward a corporate opinion. The Vice-President (Sir Joseph Kay) and the Secretary were selected to give oral evidence before the Commission. CHAPTER II. RESEARCH. 56. Technological Rescarch Laboratory. The report of the Director of the Technological Laboratory will be found in Chapter IV. The year has been one of steady progress in all directions. The facilities which the Spinning Laboratory offers have been freely taken advantage of by various Agricultural Departments, and there is no doubt that the arrangements which have been organised for testing new cottons are appreciated. Work on standard Indian cottons, most of which are those improved types which the Agricultural Departments have established on a commercial scale, has been continued on the lines originally laid down but with extensions in several directions. The Bulletin describing the full details of the results of such tests and the procedure adopted, which was published in April 1926, was received with considerable interest ; a further edition will be issued in April 1927 giving the results of a further year's work. As it has been found that the work on the variations of such standard cottons from season to season is of considerable interest to the cotton trade, arrangements have recently been made for the results with individual cottons to be separately pub- ·37 lished as early as possible in each season. As time goes on the value of these tests in facilitating the marketing of new varieties of cotton will become more apparent. 67. In the Research Laboratory considerable progress has been made with the scheme of work for the examination of the measurable characters of the cotton fibre and the correlation of such data with spinning tests. The importance of such work and its bearing on cotton breeding has been explained in previous reports and in the Committee's report on the "Present Position of Cotton Research in India." It is sufficient to say here that extensive data on the spinning properties of various cottons are being gradually built up in the course of the work of the laboratory and that at the same time data are being obtained for those fibre characters likely to have a bearing on spinning value with the object of correlating the two series of data and throwing some light on the relative importance of individual fibre characters. The second part of the work is laborious, methods and apparatus have to be designed and tested and the range of variation in each character determined. Several methods have now been worked out and are in regular use and methods for other determinations are under trial. 58. The Director of the Laboratory, Jír. Turner, was absent on leave during a portion of the year, part of the time being devoted to the study of the methods and apparatus adopted by similar Research Institutes in England. The Committee, by formal resolution, recorded their appreciation of the excellent work done by the Officiating Director, Nr. W. G. P. Wall, M.Sc., I.E.S., whose services were so kindly lent to the Committee by the United Provinces Government. 59. The Indore Institute of Plant Industry.-The annual report of the Director will be found in Appendix VII together with a s upplementary report subsequently received. It will be seen that ·38 in less than two years from the time when Mr. Howard assume charge tlie buildings and equipment have been completed, that th Institute is in full working order and that a considerable amoun of experimental work is in hand. In Appendix VIII will be found the general programme of work of the Institute which was laid down wien the scheme was approved. Briefly, it may be said that the mair work of the Institute will be the general botany, physiology and genetics of Indian cottons. In addition a number of agricultural investigations connected with cotton-growing on the black soils are being undertaken. 60. Research Grants. The oldest of the various research schemes for which the Committee gives grants have been in progress about three ycars. In Appendix IX will be found a technical note on the Tarious schemes. The Committee's grants have been divided amongst various branches of agricultural research on cotton as follows:Plant Breeding, four; Cotton Entomology, tluree; Cotton Physiology, three ; Cotton Mycology, three. Annual progress reports on each scheme are carefully considered by the Agricultural Research Sub-Committee, recommendations and suggestions made in regard to future work and a report placed before the full Committee for discussion. On several schemes the stage has now been reached where results are beginning to appear, and some of the scientific results obtained are being published shortly in the Memoir and Bulletin series of the Imperial Department of Agriculture. It may be permissible here, however, to refer to some of the main features of the progress reports, though it should be understood that many of the conclusions are tentative and that on all these problems considerable further work is necessary. 61. The object of the Herbaceum Cotton Research Scheme in the Madras Presidency is the isolation and testing of the “Herbaceum” constituents of the local cottons. This type is of great importance ·39 in certain tracts on account of several desirable agricultural characteristics and it is hoped by the isolation of pure lines to secure improvement in lint characters, ginning percentage and uniformity. Several pure lines have now been obtained and are being tested on field scale; sufficient cotton for spinning tests will be available during the coming year. 62. The detailed study of artificial hybrids between Sea Island and Dharwar Upland cotton at Dharwar has yielded several strains of distinct promise which appear to combine with hardiness and agricultural yield a staple which in length and quality is considerably superior to the best of the local cottons. Spinning tests on some of the samples also gave encouraging results. It should be emphasised, however, that the work is still far from complete. 63. Central Provinces Botanical Rescarch Scheme. The object of this work is to produce types of cotton suitable for the Domras tract possessing the necessary hardiness and resistance to wilt which the tract requires and in addition superior staple. Three such types, which yield well, have shown themselves resistant to wilt and which combine good staple with a reasonable ginning percentage, have not reached the field scale and will be tested under cultivators' conditions during the next season, In addition general study of the cottons of the province is in progress and the possibilities of securing still further improvement by hybridisation are being fully explored. 64. The Khandesh Colton Breeding Scheme is a new one, the grant having been given to provide an adequate staff for the tho- Tough investigation of some crosses between G. indicum and G. cernuum which have shown considerable promise. The early stages of the work were carried out entirely by the Bombay Department of Agriculture and several of the ner hybrids have behaved well ·40 in field trials whilst spinning tests showed that the best strain was suitable for 30s counts as compared to 8/10s for ordinary Khandesh cotton. 65. The Surat Physiological Research Scheme is a study of the causes of bud, boll and flower shedding in Southern Gujerat and of the possibility of designing measures to reduce the loss of crop. At the same station an investigation on the Earias Bollworm is being carried out, and the two investigations are closely related since Earias Bollvorm is responsible for a good deal of early shedding. The first two years' work showed that the shedding is not to any important extent due either to fungi or bacteria, and, further, that significance of the Earias Bollworm is considerably less than was originally assumed. 66. Work on the two newer physiological research schemes at Sakrand and Coimbatore respectively will be started as soon as the necessary staff is obtained. The Local Governments concerned have taken steps to secure the necessary scientific officers. 67. The investigation on Pink Bollworm (Platyedra gossypiella), which has been carried out at Cawnpore, financed partly by the Central Cotton Committee and partly by the United Provinces Government, has led to very definite results. In the first place quantitative determinations have been made on the loss of crop, both in quantity and quality, which this pest causes, and it has been shown definitely that when the crop is protected from it the increase both in the quality and quantity of the crop is remarkable. It has also been shown that when the crop is protected from other insect pests but infected to a known extent and at a known time by the pink bollworm, damage on the usual scale occurs. It has also been demonstrated both by experiments in cages and in an isolated block of 500 acres with cotton growing under normal cultivator's conditions, that if all seed is treated by heat to ensure the destruction of 1 ·41 pink bollworm larve the resulting crop is practically, if not entirely, free from pink bollworm damage. Hence there are now good grounds for believing that if all cotton-seed can be so treated the pest can be controlled. Experiments on the flight range of the moths have shown that work must be carried out simultaneously over a large area to prevent re-infection vitiating results of seed treatment. Work on other possible means of re-infection is still proceeding and Egyptian experience would indicate that it is very necessary that such work should be very thoroughly done. The scientific results obtained will shortly be published in full. During the coming year the details of heat treatment for the disinfection of cotton-seed on a large scale will be studied. 68. During the year the Committee sanctioned grants for a period of five years for work on the pink bollworm in the Punjab. This scheme is in no sense a repetition of the work at Cawnpore, for the main object is to determine the factors which make the pink bollworm a comparatively unimportant pest in the canal colonies at present though it is a serious pest in the South-Eastern Punjab. Prior to this grant being made one of the Committee's Research Students (working under the Government Entomologist, Punjab) carried out a careful investigation into the status and distribution of the pink bollworm in that province and has shown that while this pest is practically absent in the Western Punjab including the Canal Colony area and is found in small numbers in the central and northern districts of the province, it is a serious pest in the South- Eastern Punjab and is found in alarming numbers in the Eastern Punjab. In other words, conditions in the Eastern and South- Enstern Punjab are almost identical with those in the United Provinces so far as this pest is concerned. There is, horever, nn indication that climatic or other factors hare prevented this pest from spreading to the same extent through the canal colony area and the Western Punjab, nød it is extrenicly important thint it ·42 should be ascertained definitely if, in fact, such limitations do exist and, if so, what they are. 69. The third Entomological Research Scheme financed by the Committee is in connection with the Spotted Bollworm at Surat. At one time it was believed that this insect was responsible for the greater part of the early shedding of bolls in that part of the Bombay Presidency. While it is true that a large proportion of the shed material is infested with bollworm larvæ, it has been found that in cotton protected from this bollworm shedding is little, if anything, reduced, so that the insect pest is not the major cause of shedding. There is, however, reason to believe that by introducing changes in the forms of the plant or more generally by causing lateness of crop, Earias Bollworm does cause a definite loss of crop in Gujerat at any rate in certain seasons. The early indications that this pest can be controlled through the medium of parasites have proved illusory, and the study of the life-history of the insect is being continued with a view to designing other control measures. It has been shown that the removal of early damaged material and the use of insecticides are of little practical value as control measures. The information, however, which has been gained of the method of pupation, especially the fact that the pupae normally are found in the soil, mainly in cracks and at no great depth, indicates the possibility of simple control methods. In the course of this work it was found that the pink bollworm (Platyedra gossypiella) is present in Surat, as also in Khandesh, in larger numbers than was expected. 70. Cotton wilt investigations have been continued both at Dharwar and at Nagpur. The most that can be said at the present stage is that a good deal of spade work has been done and the ground cleared for further investigations. One method of dealing with this disease, viz., the use of wilt resistant varieties or strains, is already being made use of but this is by no means a final solution ·43 of the problem. At present work is directed to ascertaining th conditions which lead to the disease causing serious loss crop . RESEARCH STUDENTS. 71. Seven Research Students were selected in January 1926 an took up their appointment in the following April. A complet list of the Committee's Research Students showing how forme students are now employed and the institutions and various branche of cotton research to which present students have been allotter will be found in Appendix X. 72. Two Senior Research Studentships were awarded during th year for further research work. In all four students have not obtained employment under Provincial Agricultural Department in connection with the Committee's research schemes and one in th Committee's Technological Laboratory. Similar posts are availabl for seven students during the coming year. 73. The Committee's scheme of research students has been justified by results; these scholarships bave enabled some very useful rescarch workers to be added to the cadres engaged oj the improvement of cotton growing in India. As a result of carefu initial selection actual failures lave been relatively few though as would be expected, there is considerable variation in individua calibre. SECRETARY'S TOURS. 74. Visits were paid to Nasik, Dhulia, Juttra, Lyallpur, Lucknow Indore, Pusa, and Poona, during the year in connection with the work of the Committee. COLLECTIOX AND SUPPLY OF IXFORILITIOX. 75. Asin past years a note on the recent progress in the introduc tion of improved varictics of cotton was contributed to the Bombay ·44, Cotton Annunl published by the East India Cotton Association. The substance of this is reproduced in Appendix XI. The Committee also provides a considerable portion of the general infomation contained in the Bombay Cotton Annual. It is believed that by the Committee's co-operation with the last India Cotton Association in the production of one annual publication containing all important statistical information on cotton production and consumption such information will most easily reach those able to utilise it. 76. The Committee is again indebted to the British Cotton Industry Research association for the supply of their weekly summary of current literature in which abstracts appear of all work published in connection rith cotton growing and cotton technology and reference is made to the scientific work bearing on these subjects, and also for the supply of copies of the Shirley Institute Memoirs. 77. To the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation the Committee is also indebted for the supply to the library and to members of the Committee copies of their own proceedings, of special reports obtained by them on cotton prospects in other parts of the Empire and of their Review which is published quarterly. They have also supplied us with a considerable amount of information in regard to special cotton legislation in other countries. 78. The Committee bas in addition a large circle of Government Departments and public bodies, interested in cotton, both within and outside the Empire with whom an exchange of publications is made. PUBLICATIONS. 79. The following bulletins and pamphlets were published during the year: 1. Some Modern Problems of Scientific Research for the Improvement of Cotton Growing. 1 ·45 2. Results of Spinning Tests on Standard Indian Cottons. 3. Areas under New and Improved Varieties of Cotton. 80. The system of sending to the Agricultural Journal of India abstracts and notes on matters of use to agricultural officers and others engaged on cotton work was continued. B. C. BURT, Secretary. CHAPTER IV. Annual Report of the Director, Technological Laboratory, 1925-26. The report is divided into three sections :- I.--Spinning Laboratory. II.--Research Laboratory. III.- General. I.--SPINNING LABORATORY. Full advantage has been taken during the past year of the facilities provided by the Spinning Laboratory. A large number of tests has been made for Agricultural Departments and in connection with the tests on standard cottons. It is gratifying to be able to record that correspondence on the subject with the Igricultural Departments shows that they are now making of the results of the spinning tests in deciding their future policy in sced distribution. Some idea of the work of the Spinning Laboratory during the year under review is conveyed by the fact that in all, 111 samples bare ·been spun, involving no less than 292 separate spinnings. These figures represent practically, the maximum capacity of the Spinning Laboratory under present conditions, and show a large increase over those for the first year of the Laboratory's working, i.e., the previous year 1921-25, when the corresponding figures were 54 samples spun, involving 119 separate spinnings. Tests for Agricultural Departments. The following is a statement of cottons tested for the various Agricultural Officers :- (1) Director, Institute of Plant Industry, Indore-Two samples of Jalvi cotton. (2) Director of Agriculture, Punjab-Fourteen samples in connection with the special investigation on the purity of Punjab-Amercian cotton and on the effect of growing such cotton under different conditions. (3) Deputy Director of Agriculture, Myingyan Circle, MeiktilaFour samples of Burna cottons. (4) Director of Agriculture, MysoremOne sample of Mysore Selection 69. (5) Cotton Breeder, South Gujerat, Suratm-Six samples, four being new types and tiro being controls. (6) Cotton Breeder, North GujeratFive samples of Wagad cotton, one being a control, the other four being netv types. (7) Cotton Breeder, Dharwar-Five samples : Dharwar No. 1, Gadag No. 1, Farm Kumpta and two new types. (8) Deputy Director of Agriculture, Bellary, MadrasFour samples, two being new types, the others being local Mungari and Hagari 25, respectively. (9) Deputy Director of Agriculture, Guntur, Madras Three samples of Cocanadas, one being a control and two being ner types.

·47 (10) Cotton Specialist, Madras–Three new types of Cambodia cotton. (11) Cotton Specialist, Madras–Two samples of Uppam cotton and one sample of local Cambodia cotton. (12) Cotton Specialist, Madras–Two samples of Cambodia, cotton, one being a control and the other a new type. (13) Iis Majesty's Trade Commiss ner, Bombay-One sample of Teheran cotton. (14) A comparison of Saw-ginned and Roller-ginned cottons has been made for Punjab-American 289F, Wagad, and Cambodia cottons. Standard Indian Cottons.-The work which was referred to in the last Annual Report relating to the Standard Indian cottons has been completed in the present year and a bulletin dealing fully with the subject has been published. The following cottons were selected in the first instance as standard Indian cottons being those more or less recent Agricultural Department Select ons which have for the most part passed into extended cultivation. These are the following:- Bombay Cottons, Season. 1. Dharvar No. 1 (Kumpta) 1923-24, 1924-25. 2. Gadag No. 1 (Dharwar-American) 1923-24, 1924-25. 3. Surat 1027 A.L.F. 1923-24, 1924–23. Punjab Cottons. 4. Punjab-American 4F. 1921-23. 5. Punjab American 235F 1923-21, 1924-25. 6. Punjab-American 280F 1921-23. U.P. Cotions. 7. Caunporc K. 22 1924-23. 8. Cawnporc-American C.A. O 1921-23. ...

·48 9. Bundelkhand J. N. I 1924-25. 10. Aligarh A. 19 1924-25. ladras Collons. 11. Coimbatore ) (Co. 1) (Cambodia 295) 1923-24, 1924-25. 12. Nandyal (Sircar) 14, (Northerns) 1923–24, 1924-25. 13. Hagari (Sircar) 25, (Westerns) 1923-24, 1924-25. 11. Karunganni "c" 1923-24, 1924–25. Hyderabad Cotton. 15. Umri Bani 1924-25. For purposes of comparison two American Cottons have been introduced into the series; these are :- 16. Mississippi 1923. 17. Texas 1923. It is intended to extend this list as new cottons are introduced ; it has, however, already been extended for the 1925-26 season by the introduction of NIollisoni cotton which is the type of Desi cotton distributed by the Agricultural Department in the canal colonies of the Punjab. As explained in the Annual Report for 1924-25, it is intended to repeat the spinning and other tests on the standard cottons year by year. In this way it is expected to obtain information regarding the quality of the cottons, season by season, so that it should prove possible on the one hand to follow the effect of seasonal variations and on the other to decide whether any deterioration of the quality is taking place. These records will, of course, be increasingly valuable as the number of seasons for which they are available increases. These tests on standard Indian cottons were undertaken with a number of objects in view : (1) The primary reason for making these tests was to obtain as full information as possible about the standard Indian cottons, 1 ·49 both as to their fibre characters and their spinning capacities. It may here be remarked that the information which has now been published about these cottons has in fact proved to be of very great interest to the cotton trade in general. (2) Another important reason for making these tests was the necessity for having a series of standards by which to judge other cottons. This is particularly desirable for new cottons produced by cotton breeders, and as no spinning test standards are generally available, it has been necessary for the Technological Laboratory to prepare its own standards. (3) Seeing that it is a matter of very considerable importance as to what is the minimum weight of cotton on which a satisfactory spinning test can be carried out, the opportunity was taken in the course of these tests to examine the question. A full discussion as to the methods of carrying out the spinning tests, and the fibre and yarn tests, with various general remarks upon the results, are included in the bulletin which was published in April 1926, giving the results of spinning tests on the standard Indian cottons. One satisfactory feature of these tests is that it can now be taken as definitely proved that the procedure which has been adopted for testing small samples submitted by cotton breeders, viz., making spinning tests in duplicate on lots weighing only 5 lbs. each, is completely justified for the range of counts possible with Indian cottons, i.c., up to 40's. Hence for the completo examination of a cotton-involving the duplicate spinning tests, the fibre tests, and thio grader's valuation—the cotton breeder need only supply in the first place a sample weighing about 12 lbs. of which 10 lbs. is used in the spinning tests. This conclusion, which lias been arrived at as a result of investigations on no less than 17 different cottons, is one of the very greatest importance in thic work of the Technological Laboratory.

·In connection with the spinning tests on these standard cottons certain questions of procedure arose. In particular it was found necessary to arrange the drafts from the card onwards so that the draft required in the ring-frame for yarn of 30's counts was about six, and to obtain other counts from the same rovings merely by changing the draft in the ring-frame. While it was recognised that this expedient might not be entirely satisfactory, it had the practical advantage of saving much time in making changes on the preparatory machinery, with all the additional tests of the wrappings which would have been entailed. The point is now under investigation whether the procedure adopted instead of the use of "balanced-drafts” makes much difference to the results in the range of counts into which the standard cottons were spun, viz., 20's to 40's counts. Whatever may prove to be the results of this investigation, there is of course nothing to prevent any given cotton being spun under the theoretically correct draft conditions for each count separately, should the need at any time arise as may occur when a new strain is submitted by an Agricultural Department for a final test before it makes a final decision about the general distribution of the strain. Some of the standard cottons gave a high blow-room loss. An investigation has therefore been made to see what additional blowroom treatment is necessary in order to effect any considerable increase in the cleanliness of the yarn made. In the last Annual Report attention was drawn to the facilities available for obtaining information on two other questions : (1) The possible deterioration of cotton on storage; (2) The The effect of the physical conditions temperature and humiditymunder which the spinning tests are carried out.

·51 Some progress has been made during the present year in the elucidation of both of these subjects. In the nature of the case a fairly long period must clapse before any definite conclusions can be arrived at with respect to the first question; it is hoped, however, that it will be possible to complete the investigation of thic second question during the coming yeat. In the Annual Report for the year 1923-24 it was stated that as a measure of control, both as regards the functioning of the machinery and the personal equation of the Spinning Master, it was planned to keep records as comprehensive as possible for each spinning test. Details were given of the records which it was proposed to keep. Most of these records have in fact been maintained, the only exceptions being those for : (1) Moisture content at various stages. (2) Regularity of material at each stage. With reference to the determination of moisture content, it may be observed that as a result of the installatiott of the Cartier Humidifying system the work in the Spinning Laboratory is not carried out under fairly constant physical conditions ; in getieral the temperature is not allowed to fall below 80°F. nor the relative humidity below 60 per cent. This fact has to a large extent removed the necessity for the considerable amount of labour which would be entailed in making these determinations of moisturo content. Other reasons have arisen to render it unnecessary at the present time to make determinations of the regularity of materini at each stage. The purpose for which it was intended to introduco these tests was to determine whether any observed irregularity were due to the cotton itself or to the factors of machinery or personnal engaged in its treatment. In the first place it is to be observed that such dctcrminations involve an cnormous amount of work in the ordinary routinc spinning tests. There is no considerablc diffi- ·52 culty in designing the apparatus for these tests such apparatus has in fact been designed for use in the Research Laboratories of the British Cotton Industry Research Association--but to carry out such determinations in the course of the routine spinning tests would necessitate a considerable amount of work and the employment of additional staff. It would in fact necessitate introducing additional machines in the present sequence of spinning machinery. To do this, however, would mean that the spinning tests would not be carried out under strictly normal conditions. Moreover, quite apart from this, the interference which could be entailed in the regular routine of the spinning tests would cause a longer time to be taken in the spinning test itself and give rise to additional work owing to the increased handling of the cotton which would ensue. Nevertheless, if the tests for regularity were found to be essential, these difficulties would have to be faced. In the light of the experience which has been gained during the past two years, however, it can now be stated that there is no urgency in this question. It has been found that duplicate tests on any given cotton almost invariably agree very well with one another. The inference is therefore drawn that the factors which are introduced by the machinery and the personnel are practically constant; in other words, the spinning test as at present carried out is a real guide to the quality of the cotton under test. Hence the conclusion can be drawn that there is no immediate need to make tests for regularity at each stage, and that although such tests may ultimately prove to be valuable in exceptional cases there is no present need for them in the routine testing of cottons for Agricultural Departments. II.RESEARCH LABORATORY, Occupation was taken of the new Research Laboratory at the end of September 1925. Since that date the work to which reference ·53 was made in the Annual Report 1923-24 has been steadily proceeded with. It was explained in that report that, in order to determine the relations existing between the properties of cotton and its spinning value, investigations had been planned for the determination of the measurable properties of the cotton fibre as well as of the yarn. These investigations were to include determinations of :- Dimensional properties; (2) Elastic properties; (3) Electrical and optical properties; (4) Chemical properties ; (5) Yarn properties. From the outset work was begun on numbers (1) and (5) above. At the meeting in Bombay of the Indian Science Congress in January 1925 & paper was given on “ The Study of the Cotton Fibre." This paper reviewed all the recent work which has been done on the physical and chemical properties of the cotton fibre. The paper was divided into three sections :- (1) Structure and Composition ; (2) Physical and Chemical Properties ; (3) Practical Aspects. In the first section a general description as given of the fibre. The second section dealt in some detail with recent work upon those properties of raw cotton which were considered to have important practical aspects, viz- (1) Length; (2) Ribbon-width; (3) Arca of Cross-Section; (4) Wall-thickness; (3) Weight;

·54 (6) Strength; (7) Tensile Elasticity : (8) Surface Friction ; (9) Torsional Elasticity; (10) Plasticity; (11) Lustre; (12) Electrical Conductivity; (13) Porosity and Permeability ; (14) Physical and Chemical Stability, Emphasis was laid on the great difficulties which arose in the measuring of these properties owing to the irregularity of the material, thus necessitating the making of a large number of determinations and a statistical treatment in each case. The final section dealt briefly with the general relation of these properties to various practical problems of the cotton industry. It was pointed out that there were considerable difficulties besetting the interpretation of these properties in terms of practical utility, and as an example their relation to the spinning value of a cotton was discussed in some detail. At the meeting of the Committee in January 1926 a note was presented on “ The Research Programme of the Technological Laboratory." This note reviewed critically the work which had been done up to the present time, as detailed in the paper on “ The Study of the Cotton Fibre." A number of conclusions were drawn from this review and a research programme „submitted. This programme was approved by the Committee and new work was at once started on the elastic and chemical properties of the cotton fibre. At the same time work was continued on the lines previously followed. From the beginning the work in the Research Laboratory has been co-ordinated with that in the Spinning Labo- ·55 ratory. Determinations of staple length and of the distribution staple length in any given sample are invariably carried out every cotton submitted for test. These determinations are mad by means of two instruments known respectively as the Ball Sorter, and Baer Sorter, the results from the two instruments givir mutual checks. Measurements are also made by means of the m croscope of the staple length, the fibre vidth, and the number ai distribution of convolutions. The additional tests of the ra material which have been undertaken comprise the determinati of staple strength and of rigidity, and the making of various ch mical determinations on the different raw cottons. As was stato in the last Annual Report, it is by the accumulation of results measurements of this kind and their subsequent statistical analys that it is hoped to solve the problem as to the relation between ti properties of a cotton and its spinning value. III.-GENERAL. (1) Buildings and Equipment.—There have been no notab additions or alterations to the buildings during the past yea Additional equipment has been provided to cope with the expansio of work following on the great demands made on the resources the Technological Laboratory. The testing equipment now comprises :- 1 Cook's Lap Regularity Tester ; 1 Cook's Moscrop Yarn Tester; 3 Goodbrand Single Thread Testers ; I Goodbrand Lca Tester; 1 Goodbrand Wrap Reel; 1 Goodbrand Wrap Block; I Goodbrand Yarn Regularity Examiner;

·1 56 1 Goodbrand Twist Tester, 1 Baer Conditioning Oven; 4 Baer Sorters; 3 Ball's Sorters; I Ball's Magazine Hair Tester; 1 Barratt Hair Tester ; 1 O'Neill Hair Tester; 2 Bunge Microbalances. (2) Staff.—The sanctioned scale of the staff given in the last Annual Report has remained practically unchanged, and has been found sufficient for the present for the work which has been undertaken. One important addition, however, has been the appointment of an Instrument Maker whose services have proved very valuable in many directions. (3) Research Students.-Five Research Students have been accommodated in the Laboratory during the present year for the purpose of training in cotton technology. They have been severally engaged in Cotton Technology, in Fibre Testing for Lengthdistribution and Strength, and in determining Fibre Rigidity, the Chemical properties and the Microscopical properties of various cottons. (4) Indian Science Congress.-As has been previously mentioned, the Indian Science Congress held its Thirteenth Annual Meeting in Bombay. One day of the Meeting was devoted to the discussion of cotton problems and to a visit to the Technological Laboratory. This visit proved very popular, about 300 members being present, most of whom took considerable interest in the details of the work being carried on. (5) Publications. Reference has already been made to the Bulletin which was published during the year on the “ Results of ·57 Spinning Tests on Standard Indian Cottons." This bulletin has met with a favourable reception and a considerable demand for it has taken place. A pamphlet has also been published showing the results of a comparative test on roller-ginned and saw-ginned Punjab-American 289F cotton. This pamphlet also has excited considerable interest. As in the previous year a contribution has been made to the Bombay Cotton Annual giving a general discussion of the results obtained during the year. A. JAMES TURNER, Director, Technological Laboratory.

·58 APPENDIX I. (REVENUE DEPARTMENT.) BOMBAY CASTLE, 10th August 1926. Notification No. 3798 /24.-Whereas, owing to the wide extension of the growing of similar high quality of cotton in areas I, II and III of the areas specified in Schedule I to Government Notification in the Revenue Department No. 535-A., dated 18th August 1923, it is no longer necessary to maintain the said areas as separate protected areas for the import of cotton into them by road; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (1) of section 3 of the Cotton Transport Act, 1923 (III of 1923), the Government of Bombay is hereby pleased to cancel the said notification as far as it prohibits the import of cotton by road from the Olpad-Ankleshwar area, into the South-Surat area and the Surat area described in Schedule I to the said notification ; provided that in the event of the cultivators being found to grow cotton of inferior quality hereafter in any of the said areas, this notification will be cancelled. By order of the Government of Bombay (Transferred Departments). G. A. THOMAS, Chief Secretary to Government. APPENDIX II. OPINIONS RECEIVED FROM THE BOMBAY MILLOWNERS" ASSOCIATION. I. “ The previous improvement in Comptas has been kept up, but I have not seen any improvement in Westerns. We do not use Surats, Dharwar or Cambodias.” II. There has been no improvement since last year in Surats. In fact cotton last year was slightly inferior. In Comptas and Dharwar, improvement has been maintained. But the Westerns show no improvement but have gone down in spinning qualities.”

·59 III. "We see no improvements in Westerns or Cambodias We agree with the above views on Westerns. We do not use Nor therns or Tinnevellies and are, therefore, unable to express any opinion. Improvements in Comptab and Surats has been main tained." IV. The application of the Act relates to the prevention o mixing growths of one district with those of another. In the Compta district we have no complaints though some short staple has been mixed with longer staple--but all Comptas. In Surats we experience no mixing though the cotton was not so good as the previous season's due to this crop generally being poorer. Cambo dia and Tinnevellys were, in my opinion, a little better than the previous season's. TV'esterns.--"I agree with the views expressed in No. II above. V. "The Transport Act is working efficiently. Compta quality this year is the best we have had for several years. Cambodia and Karunganni styles are better than last year. The quality of Surat styles has beon maintained. Westerns are worse than last year due most probably to unfavourable weather conditions." VI. "I agree with No. V.” APPENDIX II. FORT ST. GEORGE, November 18, 1923. (G. 0. Press No. 1657, Development.} Notification under Section 3 of the Cotton Transport Act, 1023, (III of 1923), as amended by Act No. XXXÍt of 1025. No. 344.-Whereas it is necessary for the purpose of maintaining the quality and reputation of the cotton grown in the areas in the Madras Presidency mentioned in Schedule I hereto appended. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by subsoction (1) of section 3 of the Cotton Transport Act, 1023 (111 of 1023) as amended by Act No. XXXIV of 1923, the Government of Madras ara licreby pleased to prohibit the import of cotton into the said areas by rail and sea sive under and in accordance with the condi. tions of a liconse prescribed in this behalf subject, lowever, to the exception specified in clause (3) below.

·60 (2) The Government of Madras are further pleased to prohibit, under sub-section (2) of section 3 of the said Act, the delivery to, and the taking of delivery by, any person, at any railway station situated in any of the protected areas and specified in Schedule 11 hcreto appended, of any cotton when such cotton has been consigned from a railway station not situated in the said area unless such person holds the prescribed license for the import of cotton into the said arca, subject, however, to the exception specified in clause (3) below. (3) The transport of cotton lint into Tiruppur-Cambodia protected area as defined in Schedule I from the districts of North Arcoti , South Arcot, Chittor and Chingleput and from the Atur, Dharmapuri, Hosur, Krishnagiri, Omalur, Salem and Uttangarai taluks of Salem district is exempted from the operation of clauses (1) and (2) and permitted without restriction. SCHEDULE I.-PROTECTED AREAS. I. The Northcrns and I'esterns arca~Consisting of the districts of Anantapur, Bellary, Cuddapah and Kurnool. II. The Tiruppur-Cambodia area-Consisting of the district of Coimbatore, the Harur, Nusiri and Kulittalai taluks of Trichinopoly district, the Namakkal, Tiruchengodu and Rasipur taluks of Salem district and that portion of the Madura district lying to the north and west of the Vaigai river. III. The Tinncvelly arca.-Consisting of the district of Tinnevelly and that portion of the districts of Ramnad and Madura lying to the east and south of the Vaigai river. SCHEDULE II.--RAILWAY STATIONS. I. The Northerius arut Westerns area.--All stations from Kottur to Hospet, both inclusive, from Rayadrug to Bellary, both inclusive, from Hospet to Guntakal, both inclusive, from Guntakal to Hindupur, both inclusive, from Guntakal to Tungabhadra river, both inclusive, from Dharmavaram to Tanakallu, both inclusive, from Guntakal to Cumbum, both inclusive, on the Guntakal-Bezwada line, from Dhone to Kurnool, both inclusive, and from Guntakal to Settikunta, both inclusive.

·1 61 II. The Tiruppur-Cambodia area. All stations from Podanur to Kallar, both inclusive, Dladukarai and all stations from Podanur to Pollachi, both inclusive, from Podanur to McDonald's Choultry, both inclusive, from Madura bridge to Samudram, both inclusive, and from Erode to Marudur, both inclusive, III. The Tinnevelly arca.--All stations from Maniyachi to Maduta, both inclusive, from Maniyachi to Tenkasi, both inclusive, from Maniyachi to Tuticorin, both inclusive, from Tinnevelly to Tiruchendur, both inclusive, and from Madura to Mandapam, both inclusive, APPENDIX IV. LIST. OF PRESS MARKS. Name of Presidency or Province. Press Mark, Madras Presidency M. Bombay B. Sind S. Bengal L. United Provinces t. Punjab P. Central Provinces Bihar and Orissa Q Assam North-West Frontier Province F. Ajmer-Merwara J. Delhi 91 97 . Name of State. Alipura Altar Aundh Balian alpur Press Jark. AP. AL. AU. BN. 20 of State Prizs Parayelle.. Pens272 I 11 Lt Popis bezor, si's De ", SEYE!. Brze ·62 Name of State. Press Mark. Name of State. Press Mark, BR. . .. BT. BN. BP. BL. . . . .. . . . . . .. .. Barwani' Bharatpur Bhavnagar Bhopal Bilaspur Bundi Cambay Chhota Udaipur Cochin Cutch.. Datia. Dewas, J. B... Dewas, S. B. Dhar Dholpur Dhrangadhra Faridkot Gondal Gwalior Hyderabad Idar Indore.. Jaipur Jamkhandi Jaora Jath Jetpur.. Jhabua Jhalawar Jind Jodhpur Junagad Kalsia Kapurthala Kashmir Katosan Khairpur Khilchipur Kishengarh Kolhapur Kotah Limbdi Lokhtar Malerkotla Manawadar Marwar Mewar.. Miraj, J. B. Miraj, S. B. Morvi .. Mudhol Mysore Nabha.. Narsingarh Nawanagar Palanpur Palitana Partabgarh Patiala Porbandar Rajgarh Rajpipla Rampur Rutlam Sachin.. Sailana Sangli Savanur Shahpura Sitamau Tonk Vankaner Wadýwan BU. CA. CU. ON. CT. DT. DJ. DS. DR. DH. DG. FK. GN. GL. HD. ID. HS. JP. JK. JR. JA. JT. JH. JL. JD. JO. JN. KA. KP. KS. KO. KR. KL. KG. KH. . KT. LM. LK. MK. MN. MA. ME. MJ. MS. MV. MD. MY. NB. NG. NA. PL. PN. PG. PT. PB. RG. RP. RM. RL. SA, SL. SN. SV. SH. SI. TK. VK. WA. . . . • . . .. . . + ..

·63 APPENDIX V. COTTON FINANCE ENQUIRY. SUBMARY OF THE REPORTS ON THE KHANDESH, BERAR AND NORTH GUJERAT INVESTIGATIONS. A. copy of the questionnaires for the village and market enquiries is given below. The detailed results are too bulky for reproduction but the abstract tables embody much of the information obtained. QUESTIONNAIRES. Village Investigations. Information to be obtained from each Cotton Grower. Village, . Name of Cotton Cultivator..... Is he a Proprietor or Tenant ? Total area of his holding.. Area under Cotton....... (Survey numbers).. Anticipated yield of kapas.. Variety..... IST PERIOD. Information betuceen. 1. Has any advance been taken for cultivation up-to-date ? ..... 2. If so, how much?.. 3. What amount has been signed for ?. 4. Rate of interest., ... 5. Source of advance (Co-operative Society, Sorcar, cotton trader) .....

·64
6. Is there any bond to sell kapas through the lender, or to the
lender?..
ינס
.
7. Is the crop already sold, and the price fixed either on acreage
or on weight?....
If so, to whom ?..
and
for what price?..
2ND PERIOD.
Information between
1. How much kapas has been picked so far-approximately?....
2. Has any advance been taken on this kapas ?
3. If so, from whom ?
?..
and under what conditions ?.
.
4. Has any kapas been actually sold ?....
If so, to whom?..
and where ?.
and when?.
Was it sold ? through a dalal or arti?.
5. Has the money been received for this Kapas ?.
6. What was the rate ?.
7. What was the money actually received ?.
8. Where was the kapas delivered ?.
How far away?.....
Who paid for cartage?.
.

·65 3RD PERIOD. Information between 1. What was the quantity of your whole crop of kapas ? 2. How much now remains with you? 3. Have you received the whole money due on the kapas sold ? 4. How many carts were sold locally, and how many were carted to the market and sold there? (If quantities small, state weights). If sold in the market, was it sold through a broker ? Was the cotton sold outright or deposited with an arti or Bania for sale ? 5. Did you ascertain the market rates before selling? If so, how? 6. Has an advance been taken on the hapas remaining with pou ? 7. If so, from whom and under what conditions ? 8. What rate are you now offered for this kapas locally ? (Market rates can be found separately). General. (Such information as can be obtained about difficulties in marketing, in finance, and in holding for higher prices). 1. Would an open cotton market with open prices be any advantage to you? If so, how ? 2. Is there any difficulty in knowing the rate at which your agent sells your lapas and in recovering the full money? 3. Are deductions made from the price? 4. If so, what are they said to be for-and what ratc is said to be charged ? 5. If you take lapas to market, and cannot get a good rate for your cotton, what do you do with it?

·06 General Information to be obtained for each Market. 1. How is the market managed ? Attach a copy of any local bye-laws or rules regulating trading in kapas or cotton. 2. Is there any local Market Committee of any kind ; if so, who are the members ? What are their occupations ? 3. Describe in detail how sales are conducted. 4. Can cultivators bringing kapas to the market sell direct or must they employ brokers? 5. What is the system of buying? Do buyers buy direct or employ brokers? 6. Do brokers and arhatyas act for both buyers and sellers ? 7. Do buyers give advances against kapas deposited for sale ; if so, what percentage of the value and at what interest ? 8. If daily (or opening) rates are fixed, how is this done, and how are they announced ? 9. Are Bombay rates posted in the market regularly? If so, what rates and how obtained ? 10. Are there any arrangements for storage in the market ? Is kapas stored in arti's shops, or godowns, or in ginning factories, on sellers' account? 11. Do the market records show daily arrivals? Compile a statement of daily and monthly arrivals for last season from the records available and of prices for the same dates.' 12. State the system of weighment in use. Are there any complaints from cultivators about weighments; if so, what ? 13. How is the weighman paid and how much ? By whom is he employed ? 14. What are the allowances and deductions customary in the market? Is there any complaint from sellers that these are unfair progression ·67 .. 1. KHANDESH INVESTIGATIONS. (a) VILLAGE ENQUIRY-WEST KAANDESH. Ten villages were selected for these enquiries, six in West Khandesh and four in East Khandesh. Detailed replies were received from 813 cultivators out of a total of 851. A few replies were incomplete, but most of the 38 cultivators from whom complete replies were not received were either absent or have grown no cotton. For West Khandesh the following general conclusions are possible : The periods for recording information were modified as follows:- First period September 24th to October 14th. Second period October 20th to November 6th. (For West Khandesh only). Third period January 21st to February 20th. The last change has proved a mistake as, for various reasons which will be discussed later, a good deal of the cotton was sold between the beginning of December and the middle of January; In any future enquiry probably it would be desirable that the village observations should be more continuous. (i) Method of sale. A few of the larger growers have had their kapas ginned and have sold ginned cotton and state that this is the most profitable method of sale. A considerable proportion of cultivators in some villages have sold their kapas in established markets such as Dhulia and Nandurbar and, as will be seen from the market results, the sales by cultivators in such markets from an appreciable percentage of the whole. In all villages a good deal of the kapas, and in some practically all has been sold locally either to village traders or to traders from adjoining villages who visited the villages from time to time for the purchase of kapas. Such peripatetic buyers in some cases rc-sold the kapas in the larger markets, in other cases to ginners. On the question as to whether open markets are an advantage the opinions of cultivators naturally differ. Many ntc in favour of them ns they say that weighnients are more accurate, the real prices arc obtained and money is paid the same day which is not the case ·68 when kapas is sold in villages. The objections to the larger markets are : (a) The cost of cartage-this is not mentioned by many. () The kapas weighs less at the market than in the villages by a few seers per cart. On this point the market enquiries have shown that at Dhulia the last bundle of kapas (less than 1 maund) is nerer weighed accurately and is not paid for in full. At Amalner a fixed deduction of 5 seers per cart is made. (c) The principal complaint is that the cultivator does not, as a rule, get the rate which is settled in the market but, after weighing has commenced at the ginning factory, a dispute arises about quality and a reduction in the rate is frequently made. These “ Vandas are strongly objected to by a number of cultivators. The recorded reductions range from 4 annas to Rs. 3 per maund. Some are doubtless justified owing to moisture, low ginning percentage or black leaf, but the frequency of small reductions indicate that there is real ground for complaint. (ii) Finance. In villages where there are co-operative societies it is probable that much better records of cultivator's loans have been obtained. The advances are not heavy but are very substantial. Some cultivators complain that the societies do not advance sufficient money and it will be observed that a number of members of the co-operative societies have also borrowed from sowkars. It is difficult to deal with this point in any abstract, but the examination of the detailed figures shows that, on the whole, co-operative societies have advanced reasonably large amounts. (iii) Cultivator's borrowings. The summaries give a good deal of information as to the extent of the borrowings. No attempt at a general enquiry into agricultural indebtedness was made. Where there is no co-operative society the interest on cash loans varied from 18 to 24 per cent. A very large number of cultivators have taken cotton seed on credit in amounts which suggest that a portion of it was required for cattle. The rates charged represent high rates of interest (60 per cent. nearly).

·69 Advances recorded in the second period, (le, advances talen subsequent to cultivation advances) are very small, both in number and the amount Very few instances of actual advances against hapas are recorded No instances of the sale of the crop before it is ready have been recorded The money lenders are not purchasers of hapas to any considerable extent There is no indication that the cultivators have been hampered by indebtedness in disposing of their kapas to the best advantage Some replies state that culturators could not hold their kapas after the end of December or the middle of January There are not many such replies and such us thero are are discounted by the fact that the other replies state that hapas was sold either because rates had fallen or because the end of the season was approaching (10) Sales The percentage of hapas sold in the second period to hapas picked up to that date is on the whole surprisingly small and the number of cultivators who held up the whole of their l apas until December or January is surprisingly large Those who sold their hapas promptly this year clearly obtained much better rates than those who accumulated the wliole of their cotton and sold it later It is significant that the village which shows the highest percentage of hapas sold during the early period is also the vllage wuch sold most hapas in the marhet (Dhulia) One thing at any rate is clear Cultivators on the whole were of opinion that they would get better prices by holding their kapas and the large majority did hold either the whole or a substantial percent.ge of their crop, A number of sales of the cultivator's whole crop are recorded as late as the end of January, or the beginning of February Hence the assumption appears to be justified that there is no pressure to sell owing to lack of finance No facilities cust for cultivators taking advances against hapas deposited for sale and there does not seem any indication that thcy are wanted What does seem to be needed is some elementary regulation of the larger markets Lien under the markets are on the whole allages cien allowing for the parison las not been possible because the actual dates of sale lind not been recorded in & sufficient number of cases But the general conclusion & ·70 is that there is a clear indication that cultivators who have sold their kapas in the larger markets have obtained better rates. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. For West Khandesh the following general conclusions seem to he justified: (1) A large number of cultivators have kept all their kapas unsold from the end of October until various dates in December and January. Of the remainder a number sold a certain proportion earlier and benefited by doing so. Comparatively few sold at the first opportunity. (2) Such information as has been collected indicates that indebtedness, on the whole, is moderate. There is no indication that the cultivator's freedom in selling his kapas has been restricted by indebtedness. (3) The borrowings after the cultivation periods are smali. There is clearly no pressure to sell. (4) There seems to be little demand for facilities for depositing kapas against advances, (6) It would seem from the evidence before us that regulated markets would assist the cultivator to get a better price for lis kapas. Many cultivators object to take advantage of the present markets because they state that vandhas or disputes prevent them from getting a fair price. VILLAGE ENQUIRY-EAST KHANDESH. Four villages from East Khandesh were selected and the records of two of these, both very large villages, have been gone through in detail with the investigator. The periods of enquiry were as follows: Namurabad. • Kandari. Tamaswadi and Dergaon. Ist Period 2nd Period . September 30th to Octo- September 24th to 28th. September 19th to October 8th. ber 7th. October 30th to Norem. November 12th to 14th. October 25th to Norem. ber 5th. ber 25th, February 8th to 20th and January 5th to 8th and January 20th to Feb- March 4th. February 28th. 3rd Period ruary 15th.

·on 1. METHOD OF MARKETING. Twenty-six cultivators had their cotton ginned and sold li of whom twenty were from one village. Sales in markets are mu less common than in West Khandesh, most of the sales being ma locally to travelling traders. Three villages disposed of all the kapas in this manner; in the fourth village only 20 cultivators of of 180 sold kapas in the market and 20 sold ginned cotton. As might be expected there are far fewer replies about tl advantages or otherwise of open markets. In the one village the had some experience of markets 37 replies were in favour of op markets owing to the greater competition ; 11 recorded deduction vandhas” varying from two annas to Rs. 1-4 per maun 4 had no trouble. Thirteen stated that if the kapas rate in t? market was unfavourable they got their kapas ginned and store their cotton-one did so. There seem to be no complaints abou village weighments but in many cases there was great delay--var ing from 2 weeks to 2 months in payments. BORROWINGS. The cultivator's borrowings during the cultivation period as very similar to those in West Khandesh but are somewhat heavio As in West Khandesh borrowings recorded during the 2nd perio i.c., after picking had begun were quite nominal. There were n borrowings against kapas deposited. Again there are no indication that the cultivators were tied to the money lenders or hampered b. their borrowings in disposing of their kapas to advantage. An additional summary for damurabad village has been pre pared showing the amounts which some tenants are paying for rent ed land. Most of them are also proprietors of part of the land they cultivate. The rents are very heavy (Rs. 20 to Rs. 35 per acro compared to the assessment (Rs. 4 to Rs. 5) and probably only a man who owns part of his land could afford to pay them. In this village rents are paid for the year in adrance, a fact which explains som of the heavy borrowings. SALES. In the two large villages Mamurabad and Kandari three distinct sale periods can be observed. The carly sales, i.e., before November 6th were trivial although half the crop lnd been picked.

·172 In the next period ending about November 25th, 47 out of 170 cultivators in Mamurabad and 79 out of 93 in Kandari sold all or most of their kapas, the percentage of the total crop so sold in the 2 villages being 34 and 79. At the next period, January 6th to 15th, 114 cultivators in Mamurabad and 14 in Kandari sold all their crop. In Tamaswadi and Devgaon also first period sales were nominal and in the latter village most of the kapas was sold about January. The cultivators' replies show that they can and did hold up their kapas until January in the hope of getting better prices ; this is 3 months after harvest. There is clearly little pressure to sell. Sales of the standing crop in advance are again nil . A few very small “ Jalap” sales of trifling quantities are recorded. These seem to be more a matter of custom than of money. No detailed comparison is possible of the rates obtained from village sales and sales in the market but the indications are that in the case of Tamaswadi and Kandari the rates obtained in the villages compared pretty well with market rates. For Devgaon we have a fairly good comparison with Dhulia market rates. The rates at Dhulia were Rs. 21-4 to Rs. 21-8 per maund, whilst 16 per cent. of the Devgaon cultivators got Rs. 20 to Rs. 21 locally and 45 per cent. Rs. 19 to Rs. 20, i.e., Re. I to Rs. 2 down. Mamurabad cultivators got about one rupee below Jalgaon market rates for November- December sales ; for December-January sales they got market prices for Red Leaf cotton but were heavily penalised (Rs. 2 to Rs. 3 per maund of kapas) for black leaf kapas. Generally speaking the East Khandesh results confirm the conclusions provisionally adopted for West Khandesh.

·73 Advances taken by Cultivators expressed in Rupees per acre of cotton cultivation. WEST KHANDESH. P= Proprietor T-Tenants, loduding those cultivating partly as tcounts and partly a9 proprietors number of culturstors in earl group R$ Rs Is Ra Its Rs Over Advances R$ per arte No ad van ce B-10 11-15 16-2021 Nam ber of Fut! vator 26-30 31-10 Rs 40 Coraca 410 3 (0) 5 (c) . 23 18 M - 10 1 10 | Total 9 7 5 8 150 PEMATES-a) One had further uniscertalped borrowing for household purposes (0) RA A1 Rs 82 and Rs 50 respectively c) R140 E3 83 Rs 53 Rs 50 and Rs 47 respectively Yarpada 1 3 2 10 T ili 0 Total 4 1 5 7 5 0 2 1 sta) 3. - REYAKKS-a) R$ III R$ 49 Rs 46 and Ils 48 per acro respectively Alanda EL 8 (a) mos co 10m 1 39 10 e Total 3 0 0 4 0 81 7 0 11 64 REMARKS-a) Rs 89 R: 82 Rs 58, Rs 57 Rs 51 R: 50 Rs 50 apd Rs 50 per acte respectively (0) Rs 66 B3 53, and Its 49 per acre respectively Sonsbriu 29 Foto . î ó 1 ó local 0 0 Total 1 3 1 1 1 0 0 32 RexArts-() To borrowings above Rs 30 por acre most of the 22 small borrowings are for soud on credit Vaghoda. GH 0 COCO 21- CO 10 ciou Total 6 4 6 3 R-a) Rs 83 0 1 5? per acto respectively Morri rf R 7 0 co 1001 Total 19 1. 0 7 1 0 0 20 Wat Khandesh All cultivator 193 F 10 jo 2 Toma 39 9 23 co 3 A tercentas 13 19 9 13 11 7 ·74 Advances expressed as a percentage of the money realized from the sale of cotton. WEST KHANDESH. Number of cullirntors in cach group. Percentages. 0 1-23 06 20-30 51–70/70-100) 101 151 Over 6 16 % 150% 200% 200% REMARKS. Gorann. 10 0 :: 3 0 of the T. 10 5 0 3 38 ya) 에 at (a) 357% 18 Total 10 3 8 15 10 0 1 50 Varpada ... OC ... T. 25 1(a) 1 0 0 1 (a) 215% 1 O 1 10 0 Total 41 8 12 8 1 1 1 0 1 35 Ajanda Bk. 7 8 8 P. T, 1(a) 6 2 1 0 38 16 (a) 241% 5 Total 9 0 11 12 12 8 1 1 1 54 Sonsuclu, 20 0 0 P. T. 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 29 9 1 Total 3 27 6 1 1 0 0 0 38 Taghoda. P. 8 2 wes cia 3 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 26 10 T. Total 61 2 10 6 4 6 1 1 36 Pimprad. P. T. 7 1 11 9 11 3 5 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 37 13 8 Total 20 14 5 2 1 0 0 50 .. 34 West Khandesh. All cultivators. P. T. 40 20 33 14 18 11 18 8 2 0 4 0 193 76 17 Total 40 60 61 47 29 26 2 269 Percentage 15! 22 23 17 11 9 1 2 P.=Proprietor. T.=Tenants, including those cultivating both as proprietors and tenants. On all the cultivators in the six villages. 37% had borrowed less than 25% of the value of the crop. 60% 50% 23% more than 75% 12% 100% 23 >> 22 ·75 Advances taken by Cultivators expressed in Rupees per acre of cotton cultivation. EAST KHANDESH. Proprietor T-Tenanta Incoding those cultivatiog partly as t-pants and partly as proprietors Number of cultiralors in each group Advances Rs per &cre Rs 10 ad vance Rs 6-10 R! 11-15 Rs R$ R: 18-20 21-25 26-30 31-40 Over om R$ 401 of culti Yatos Mantrabad 1 49 0 4 3 3 5 ru el T 38 3 8 8 5 14 23 (3) 102 Total 87 1 5 16 12 11 8 19 181 Advances expressed as a percentage of the money realized from the sale of cotton. EAST KHANDESA. r-Troprietor T -Tenants lacluding those cultivating both as proprietors and tenante umber of Cullirators in each group Tercentages 0 1-2) . 216-50 51 5 , 70-100 101 101-350 151-209! Over omter 2.00 of cafts VO Maturalad ”. 49 0 0 5 3 1 4 13 38 15 10 8 17 3 102 Total 87 13 21 13 8 1R1 REYS-a) Rs.75,1.5, 30, R. 100 15 07, F. 50 PR. SO, T', 32,1: 106 and Rs. 106 ur sere respectively (6) P: 84, RA 44,8x 53, Rs 41, Rs 51, st. LO Rs 66, P. 73, B. Si, 3s 1.1, red. Ruta per seto respectively (c) Tro clicanstaaces afect the lorror trips to this filare (1) Terents terordel for leam land are high and time are fall to war (2) The area under groundouts is frozimately hall ihr cction area of t*tte record advaders frally relate to two cash store fostrad of OLX (The Dumbet of coltivaters (* out of 181) *1.0 LAVT IcoToxid rcstist it vry List ·74 Advances expressed as a percentage of the money realized from the sale of cotton. WEST KHANDESH, Number of cultivators in each group. Percentages. 0 1-25 % 26-50 51-75 76-100 101- | 151 Over % % % 150% 200% 200% REMARKS. Gorana. P. T. 4 10 0 4 0 10 5 6 3 13.03 38 18 (a) 357% 0 Total 10 3 8 15 9 .. 10 1 56 Varpada .. ..P. 8 ON HA 7 1 0 1 1 0 1(Q) 0 25 10 (a) 215% T. Total 4 8 12 8 1 1 0 1 35 Ajanda Bk. 0 P. T. 7 2 8 3 1(a) 6 2 8 4 1 0 2cm 38 16 (a) 241% 5 Total 9 0 11 12 12 8 1 1 54 Sonshelu. 0 0 ع نم 3 0 20 7 1 0 0 1 29 9 1 Total 27 6 1 1 0 0 0 38 Taghoda. P. T. 3 3 2 0 8 2 3 3 2 2 6 0 1 0 1 O 26 10 Total 61 2 10 6 4 6 1 1 36 Pimprad. 0 P. T. 7 1 11 9 11 3 5 0 2 0 1 0 37 13 0 Total 8 ! 20 14 2 1 0 0 50 34 40 4 West Khandesh. All cultivators. P. T. 34 ! 44 17 33 14 18 11 18 8 2 0 193 76 20 Total 40 60 61 47 29 26 2 4 269 Percentage 151 22 23 17 11 9 1 2 P.=Proprietor. T.=Tenants, including those cultivating both as proprietors and tenants. On all the cultivators in the six villages. 37% had borrowed less than 25% of the value of the crop. 50% 23% more than 75% 12% 100% 60% 2) ·75 Advances taken by Cultivators expressed in Rupees per acre of cotton cultivation. EAST KHANDESH, P Proprietor T -Tenants Including those cultivatins partly as tenants and partiy as proprietors Number of cultiralors in tack group Pg Rs Advancea RS per acre Rs 11-15 RS Rg 16-20 21-25 Rs 26-30 Rs 81-40 6-10 vance Over Xur R$ 40 ot celi Tatore 0 Mamabad T 4 3 4 3 9(a) 38 T 1 3 12 8 B 5 13 13 () Total 87 1 5 16 12 8 19 Advances expressed as a percentage of the money realized from the sale of cotton. EAST KHANDESA. P Proprietor TzTenanta Including thosc caltivating both as proprietors and tenants. umber of Culturators in each group l'ercentages 0 1-23 26-50 51-75 76-100 101-200 Watanabad 19 $ 6 3 S T. 39 7 15 20 Total 87 13 21 13 RESARS--(a) Bs.75, Ra, 50, Re 100, R. 67, PS 50, RESO LILIPS* (6) Rs 64, Rs 4, R. 53, R. 41, Rs 51, Pake SA 4. KL. Ro 74 ger scre reefectively (c) T*O clreutestsoces stact the Looritas (1) The repts recorded for leskd lrd (9) The area under grounder's advances really relate to inter (1) The oomber of caltraton (1) best mogen ·76 Advances taken by Cultivators expressed in Rupees per acre of cotton cultivation. EAST KHANDESH. P. Propriсtor. I.=Tenants including thosc cultivating partly as tenants and partly as proprietors. Number of Cultivators in each group, Advances Rs. per acre. No advance. Rs. 1-5 Rs. 6-10 Rs. Rs. Rs. 11-15 16-20 21-25 Rs. 26-30 Rs. 31-40 Over Number Rs. 40 of cultivators. Kandari. P. 10 0 3 5 10 6 7 5 50 T. 5 4 2 5 8 4 7 8 2 45 Total 15 5 9 13 14 13 15 7 95 Advances expressed as a percentage of the money realized from the sale of cotton. EAST KHANDESH. P.=Proprietor. T.-Tenants including those cultivating both as proprietors and tenants. Number of Cultivators in each group. 0 1-25 % Percentage. 26-50 % 51-75 % 76-100 101-150 151-200 % % % Over Number 200 % of cultivators. Kandari. P, 10 0 3 8 12 8 4 5 50 .. T. 5 2 5 7 7 8 45 5 .. Total 15 2 8 15 19 95 16 11 9 ·77 Advances taken by Cultivators expressed in Rupees per acre of cotton cultivation. EAST KHANDESH. P Proprietor T Tenants including those cultivating partly as tenants and partly as proprietors Number of culturators en each group No ad Yance R$ 1-5 Rs &-10 Rs R3 Rs 11-15 | 16-20 | 21-25 R9 26-30 Number Rs Over of 31-40 Rs 40 culti vators Advances Rs per acre Tampaswadi P 23 4 10 19 17 16 14 153 29 28 (a) 3 7 (6) T . 2 3 1 4 1 25 Total 25 6 12 15 18 20 15 32 178 REMARKS -(a) Rs 67, RS 48, R$ 89, Rs 55, Rs 57, Rs 53, R: 72 Rs 67, Rs 50, R9 80, RS 80. R$ 44, R$ 41, R$ 66, Rs 92 R67, Rs 66, Rs 50, Rs 133, Rs 58 Rs 44, Rs 133, Rs 63, Rs 113, Rs 67, Rs 50, R8 47 and Rs 114 per acre respectively (o) Rs 83, Ry 47, 113 93, Rs 59 Rs 133, R8 50 Rs 54 per acre respectively There is a considerable arca of groandouts in this village, indeed some cultivators grew no cotton This doubtless explains a number of the larger loans Advances expressed as a percentage of the money realized from the sale of cotton. EAST KHANDESH. P Proppletor T -Tenants lacluding those cultivating both as proprietors and tenants Jumber of culticatort in eack group 1225 Percentage 516" 176-100 101,150 151-200 Orer 0 200 Aumber of culti. rators Tamu di P. B 13 17 17 11 80 153 3 . 4 $ 95 Totat 13 20 10 29 19 35 178 ·1 78 Advances taken by Cultivators expressed in Rupees per acre of cotton cultivation. EAST KHANDESH. P.Proprietor. 1:=Tenants including thosc cultivating partly as tenants and partly as proprietors. Number of cultiralors in each group. Xo ad- Vance. Ad canccs Rs. per acrc. Rs. 1-5 Rs. 0-10 Na, 11-15 Rs. 16-20 Rs. 21-23 Rs. Rs. 26-30 31-10 Number Over of Rs. 40 cultivators. Dergaon. P. 12 6 1 3 5 10 f 12 23 (a) 81 T. 0 0 1 1 2 1 1 8 (6) 10 Total 14 6 1 6 12 5 13 31 07 REMARKS.--(a) Rs. 04, Rs. 72, Rs. 74, Rs. 51, Rs. 43, Rs. 82, Rs. 53, Rs. 91, Rs. 02, Rs. 97, Rs.75, Rs. 58, Rs. 49, Rs. 60, Rs. 53, Rs. 46, Rs. 47, Rs. 46, Rs. 51, Rs. 44, Rs. 48, Rs. 50 and Rs. 48 per acre respectively. (0) Rs. 60, Rs. 40, Rs. 56, Rs. 55, Rs. 101, Rs. 75, Rs. 63 and Rs. 68 per acre respectively. Advances expressed as a percentage of the money realized from the sale of cotton. EAST KHANDESH. P.=Proprietor. T.=Tenants including those cultivating both as proprietors and tenants. Number of cultivators in each group. 1-23 % 26-50 % 51-75 % 70-100 % 101-150 151-2001 Over % % 200 % Number of cultivators. 0 Percentage. 12 3 S 7 7 11 10 10 Devgaon. P. 20 81 T. 2 0 0 1 2 3 2 6 16 Total 14 8 8 13 13 97 12 26 ·79 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT. Advances taken by Cultivators expressed in Rupees per acre of cotton cultivation. EAST KHANDESH. P =Proprietor T =Tenants including those cultivating partly as tenants and partly as proprietors \umber of culturalors in each group Vo a ivance RA 15 Rs 6-10 RA 11 15 R$ 18 20 R: 21 25 RS 96 30 R$ 31 40 Advances Rs per acro Num ber of culti watory Over Ra 10 MAYURABAD FEN 40 33 en e 0 13 70 102 Total 87 16 12 11 19 22 181 vals 10 0 KANDART 3 10 6 *** 10 Coor 7 8 6 2 50 45 4 Total 15 $ 0 13 14 13 15 7 05 61 10 2 23 19 TAXASWADI 10 29 1 17 1 14 1 29 3 153 25 2 Total 25 191 15 18 20 15 32 35 178 DETOOS 12 5 0 0 0 1 10 . 1 1 23 8 82 10 Total B 1 6 5 13 31 27 7 ORAND TOTAL 141 17 23 49 19 67 70 05 351 PERCENTAGE 3 1 9 9 10 17 203 It will be seen that cultivators' recorded borrowings per acre of collon arc higher in East Khandesh than in West Khandesh. T'he percentage of cultivators who have taken no advances is higher in East Khandesh than the percentage of cultivators who have not borrowed more than Rs. 5 per acre so that the difference is not significant and it could be accounted for by incomplete information as to seed obtained on credit. The higher percentage of cultivators in East Khandesh who have taken advances of orer Rs. 25 per acre is clearly due to the greater importance of groundnut Cultivation in East Khandesh. In West Khandesh the cotton area is 52-8 per cent. of the whole cultivated area in the villages studied ; for the East Khandesh villages the percentage is only 45.

·80 - (b) Market Enquiry Summary. * The village summaries deal with the number of cultivators from the villages studied who used the larger markets. The only marketst that need be discussed are the 9 referred to in the summary. Many other places were found not to be Kapas markets but places with ginning factories where ginned cotton is sold by traders. 2. It will be seen from the summary that the proportion of carts brought in by cultivators is large. In the case of Dhulia the number of carts arriving was far larger than could be dealt with by the investigators and they obtained records for 50 carts each day. Assuming that the 300 carts recorded were fairly representative (the system adopted makes it probable that they were), cultivators brought 61 per cent., traders 39 per cent. In the Amalner market also the number of carts was too large for a complete record, cultivators' carts here represent 27 per cent. and traders' 73 per cent. In the other markets every cart appears to have been recorded. At Dondaiche (3 days) 63 out of 74 carts were brought by cultivators, 85 per cent. At Sherpur 61 carts out of 73 (84 per cent.) were brought by cultivators. At Nandurbar 22 out of 53 (44 per cent.) were cultivators' carts and at Pachora 27 out of 36 (75 per cent.). At Jalgaon on the other hand only 6 carts out of 49 (12 per cent.) belonged to growers, the remainder being brought by merchants. For Maheji no conclusion can be drawn as only 5 carts were recorded. 3. The answers to the general information questions for these markets are summarised below. They are all very similar. There are no market committees and no bye-laws or rules. At Jalgaon the municipality has provided (free) an open space which serves as a cotton market. At Amalner the municipality has provided an open space and a small building and charges 2 annas per cart. At Mañeji and Pachora there is no semblance of a market yard, all transactions seem to take place at ginning factories. At Pachora however a Co-operative Sale Society, which is practically a co-operative commission shop employing one Adhatya to deal with members' produce, deals with about 4,000 carts per annum. At Sherpur there is an association of traders who adjudicate on disputes (Vandas). * For questionnaire see page 67. + Shahada is mentioned in the investigator's report as mainly a lint market but the detailed replies indl. cate that it is also a Kapas market earlier in the season.

·81 Q. 3.-The system of sales everywhere is much the same. Carts collect in the early morning, dalals show samples to merchants, bids are made under cover and the seller accepts & rate. No memorandum is given to the seller at this stage. The carts are then removed to the various ginning factories where weighment takes place and often the real bargaining. Here a memorandum of the weight and rate is given on which the cultivator is paid. Allowances are frequently claimed on the grounds that the cotton is not up to sample, or is damp, or has a low ginning percentage. Such claims are made after weighment has begun and usually the cultivator has no option but to accept the new rate. The records of such allowances is imperfect as, in many cases, only the final rate has been recorded. Nevertheless the number of cases of reductions of annas 4 to 8 per maund (say 1 to 2} per cent.) are so large that it seems clear that the buyer generally squeezes some allowance out of the cultivator. There are also some instances of much bigger deductions as much as Rs. 3 per maund (8 per cent.). This is the principal complaint of the cultivators against the present markets. It can only be remedied by the constitution of market committees and the introduction of definite market rules. Payments appear to be promptly made ; this is substantiated by the individual village replies. Q. 4.- Sellers in all of these markets except Maheji must employ a broker : they cannot sell direct. At Maheji the gin owners are said to act for the seller. Q. 6.-In Dhulia, Nandurbar and Amalner Indian firms buy direct : foreign firms employ Adhatyas. Buyers' brokers are not required at Pachora, but the only Kapas transactions at Pachora are those made through the co-operative sociсty, otherwise Pachora is & ginned cotton market. In the other markets buyers employ brokers; at Shahada buyers have their own brokers but do not pay commission on Kapas purchases. Q. 6. Yes, at Jalgaon, Dondaiche and Sherpur brokers act for both buyer and seller : at the other markets for sciler only. Q. 7.-Dondaiche, Sherpur and At Shahada ginners advance 50-75 p for ginning. Interest 74 per cent.

·82 gin-owners advance money on Kapas deposited in the ginning factory up to 50-75 per cent. of its value charging interest at 6 to 12 per cent. according to the standing of the borrower. At Dhulia and Amalner Adhatyas advance up to 75 per cent. against Kapas delivered to ginning factories. Interest 9 to 12 per cent. At Amalner and in East Khandesh generally ginners finance traders in order to attract business. Ginners at Dhulia are buyers but do not make advances. At none of these markets are advances made to cultivators against Kapas deposited for sale. Q. 8.--Buyers calculate the rates from Bombay telegraphed prices. No system of posting rates in the markets. In all cases the cultivator is dependent on buyers or dalals for information about rates. Q. 9.-Bombay rates are not posted in any of the markets. . Q. 10.—There is no provision for storage at any of the markets. At Dhulia and Nandurbar merchants and dealers can get godown accommodation in the ginning factories and it is reported that factories are increasing their storage accommodation. At other centres the only storage is in the open in ginning factory compounds. At Amalner and Jalgaon limited godown accommodation in ginning factories has been provided recently but is still insufficient. Q. 11.--At none of the markets are any proper records of arrivals and prices maintained. The approximate arrivals are reported to be as follows: Dhulia 70,000–90,000 bales serves a radius of 50-60 miles. Nandurbar 15,000–19,000 bales (two-thirds Khandesh, one-third Broach). Shahada .. 5,000–7,000 bales. Sherpur 20,000–25,000 Dondaiche 5,000–7,000 Pachora .. No record except for Co-operative Society . (4,000 carts, say 2,500 bales). Amalner 40,000 bales in a good season. Jalgaon 20,000-25,000 bales. Maheji 20,000 bales in a good year; this year 7,000 bales.

·83 Q. 12.- Weighments in the West Khandesh markets are made in the ginning factories. Avery Beam balances in half naund lots. On the whole there is little complaint about weighments except that the last bundle (less tlian maund) is not actually weighed and a deduction is made-especially at Dhulia. At Amalner the buyer takes a fixed allowance of 5 seers per cart. In the East Khandesh markets Amalner, Pachora, Jalgaon and Maheji wcighments are made on platform balances and there are some complaints that cultivators distrust these.. The detailed replies show that in many cases the market weights tallied quite well with the village rates, in other cases they were a few scers lower. Many cultivators consider that they lose from 2 to 8 secrs per cart as a rule, others hold that market weights are better. Cultivators complain of weighments at Nandurbar and of the late time (5 p.m.) at which they are commenced. At all other markets cultivators are said to get their money the same evening without difficulty. Q. 13.-1Veighment.-- Dhulia Employed by broker or Adhatya on behalf of scller ; weighing charges, Re. 1 per Candy of 20 maunds, included in broker's charges. Nandurbar Separatc weighment paid by buyer at annas 10 per Candy. Sherpur. Paid (yearly) servants of broker or Adhatya. Weighing charges included in brokerage charges. Engaged by both seller and buyer and paid annas 4 per cart by seller and annas 12 per Candy hy buyer. Dondaichc Not ascertained. Pachora The Co-operative Sociсty employs a permanent weiglunan. emaler >Employee of the broker or Adhatya. Jalgaon Jahcji Weighıman is the servant of the gin- Shahada .. Owncr.

·84 Q. 14.Allowances and Deductions, Dhulia Rs. 2 per cart of 10 maunds (or Rs. 1-8-0 for 6 maunds) made up as folows: Re, do P. Weighing 0 8 0 Hamali 0 3 0 Commission (including charity) 5 0 Nandurbar–From seller .. 12 annas per cart, viz. 1 Rs. a. p. Commission 0 8 0 Hamali Dharmao 0 0 6 0 Pinjrapol 0 1 Weighing paid separately (see above, say annas 5 per cart). From buyer-10 annas per Candy commission, and 5 Hamali. Sherpur-From seller- 13 Rs. 2. p. Hamali 0 4 0 Pinjrapol 0 2 0 Jokhami & Adhat (including weighing charges) .. ..0 8 0 to 0 12 0 or Re. 1 per cart. . From buyer—8 annas per Candy. Shahada .. Adhat from Re. 0-12-0 to Re. 1 per 100 rupees (say Rs. 1-8-0 to Rs. 2 per cart).

·85 do. Dharmao Re. 0-1-3 per cart. Weighing charges Re. 0-4-0 per cart. Dondaiche Adhat at Re. 0-12-0 per cent. (Rs. 1-8-0 to Rs. 1-14-0 per cart). Hamali Re. 0-3-0 per cart of 10 maunds. Pinjrapol Re. 0-1-0 Dharmao Re. 0-0-3 do. National school Re. 0-0-6 do. Watering charges Re. 0-1-0 do. Total, say, Rs. 1-13-9 to Rs. 2-3-9 per cart. Pachora (Co-operative Society) Commission Re. 0-2-0 per cart. Adhat Re 0-8-0 per Rs. 100. Dharmao Re. 0-0-6 per cart. The commission includes weighing charges. Jalgaon .. Re. 0-8-0 to Re. 0-9-0 per cart from seller, and Re. 0-6-0 per cart from purchaser. Sellers are charged :- Commission and weighing Re. 0-6-0 per cart of 480 seers. Dharmno Re. 0-1-0 per cart for 480 scers. Bhatta Re. 0-0-6 do. Pinjrapol Re. 0-0-6 do. Additional Pinjrapol this year Re. 0-1-0 per cart of 480 seers. Amalner Ground rent Re. 0-2-0 per cart. Brokerage, etc., Rs. 1-8-0 per cart for 432 secrs or under. Rs. 2-0-0 per cart abovc 432 secrs up to 702 seers.

·86 The latter includes: Rs. 2. p. Weighing 0 8 0 Hamali 0 2 6 Commission 1 2 6 Pinjrapol 0 2 0 Dharmao 0 1 6 A fixed allowance of 5 seers per cart is also taken by buyers. Mancji. 1 anna charity cesses per cart only. GENERAL. 1. The investigator has also devoted considerable time to an enquiry as to how local prices are calculated from Bombay prices and details of “ export charges.” It is doubtful if this can profitably be followed up as the niost important factor of all-ginning percentage is variable. So long as there is competition amongst buyers, the nominal market rates will probably correspond fairly closely to Bombay rates. I shall go through these details with him later and if any definite conclusions emerge they can be dealt with later. 2. The system of forward “ring” sales by which the seller weighs over his Kapas and nominates some future date for the settlement of the rate has been enquired into and it was found that out of 350 cultivators (3 villages) four only had sold in this way. It is stated that this system has fallen into disfavour since 1920, 3. Sales of ginned cotton by petty dealers who have collected Kapas from villages seem to be considerable. 4. The reasons why all the Co-operative Sale Societies (Co-operative commission shops) except that at Pachora have failed would seem to be worth enquiring into. Even the Pachora Society seems to have handled more carts for petty dealers than for cultivators. The Society has also sold Kapas brought in from the Nizam's Dominions. Such commission shops seem to have attracted a certain number of cultivators who have now reverted to village sales because of the disputes over quality in markets like Dhulia. This might be taken up by the Divisional Cotton Committee.

·87 INDIVIDUAL ANSW EPS The proportion of cultivators and traders selling Kapas in each marhet has already been dealt with It has also been stated that cultivators cannot obtain advances on cotton deposited but that petty traders are financed by ginners and Adhaty as The remaining questions related to (1) The rates actually settled and received as compared to the quoted marhet rate (2) Deductions and allowances I have been through the answers very fully with the Chief Investigator and it appears that in very few cases have really completo answers to our questions been obtained The question 'how much money have you actually received” has not been answered directly in a single instance so far as I can ascertain Apparently a good deal of opposition was placed in the way of the investigators, obtaining full information Dhulia Marhet – The Chief Investigator states that during the first day's investigation the rates settled in the market for over sixty carts were recorded before the carts left the marhet Then the ginning factories were visited and the rates finally agreed upon recorded and notes made on the weigliment Finally the dolals' shops were visited and the details of the actual payments obtained If this procedure could have been continued inost useful figures would have been obtained but one of the biggest buyers stopped weighment when the investigators visited the ginning factory so as to prevent them getting details of the “ Vandas " Noit dny the dalnis refused to give the rates at which the bargains had been settled and the investigators were only able to get the final rates and hence did not get details of the reductions in rates made during weighment On the first day, October 28th, both rates were recorded for 23 Carts of which 22 belonged to cultivators with the following result Deductions 111 annas per maund of 72 sccts (170 168 ) Deductions 39 Number of carts 0 * 8 12 10 6 2 1 ·88 The declared market rate was Rs. 24 ; of the 23 carts, referred to above, the rates accepted in the market , were as follows :- ; Rates Number of carts Rs. x. p. Rs, a. p, Rs, &. p.Rs. &. P. 25 12 0 24 8 0 24 0 0 23 12 0 1 0 11 5 The rates actually paid were :- Rates Number of carts Rs. 2. p.Rs. 2, p. Rs. a. p.Rs. a. P. 24 4 021 0023 12 0123 8 0 3 8 S For the remaining 27 carts (20 of which belonged to cultivators) the rates settled in the market were as follows:- Rates Number of carts Rs. 2. p.Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p.Rs. &. p. Rs. 8. P. 24 8 0 24 4 0 24 0 0 23 12 0 23 8 0 2 4 8 9 The final rates were not ascertained. On the second day, October 29th, the rates declared were Rs. 25-4-0 and Rs. 24-4-0. Of the 50 carts recorded, 47 belonged to cultivators. Reductions on dispute of 4 annas per maund were recorded in the case of 5 carts and of 12 annas for 1 cart; for the others only final payment rates were ascertained which were as follows: Rates (paid) Number of carts Rs. &. p. Rs. a. p. Rs. 2. p.Rs. 2. P. Rs. 2. P. Rs. 2. p.Rs. a. p. .. 24 6 024 4 0,24 0 0 23 12 023 8 023 4 0 23 00 1 4 14 29 0 1 سمع For subsequent dates no information about “ Vanda " deductions has been obtained and as the rates varied widely according to the quality of the cotton no deductions can be drawn from them. In only one case has the cultivator's figure for the lot of the Kapas sold been recorded (his cotton weighed į maund less than at the village). Details of the deductions made by the weighmen from the lot of the last bundle were not recorded. A fixed dalali of Rs. 2 per cart is recorded throughout.

·89 Amalner --The charges in this market are Rs 22 6 per cart Adhat, 2 annas per cart rent (municipality) and an allowance of 5 seers in weight No actual weights are recorded and no record of deductions Apparently the rates settled in the market was not recorded but the rates on which payments were made The following rates are of some interest IST DAY DECEMBEP. 3RD Marhet rate Rs 22 8 0 to Rs 22-12 0 per maund of 72 seers. Of 50 carts 17 were brought by cultivators and 33 by traders Tates Number of carts Rs & P Rs. th. P 22 12 0 20 8 0 30 2ND DAY-DECEMBER 4TH Rate Rs 22 0-0 to Rs 22 8 0 (Of 50 carts 16 were brought by cultivators) Rs. 2. P Rates Number of carts Rs. A. P 228 0 16 90 WM 4 0 0 Rs & 22 00 14 3RD DAY JANUARY 20TH Market rate R$ 20 to Rs 21 (Of 50 carts brought were 81 by cultivators) Rs. A pRs. 4. p. Ns. pRs. 8. ?Rs a "1 0 0 20 12 020 8 0 20 4 0 20 0 13 17 10 Rates Number of carts 0 Other dates shon a similar range Jalgaon - Commission of 8 annas (non I annas) per cirt is recorded throughout No records of weights or of the rites settled in the market The individual replies show nothing of interest Sherpur -The replies from this morhctarc of more interest as in 23 cases (16 cultivators and 9 traders) the weight of cotton was known by the seller and could be compared with the market rate In only three casos do the weights tally exactly, but the discrepancy in the other cases is sometimes plus and sometimes nunus and is clearly ·90 due to the fact that the 'home' weights were based on a different maund. In this market weights were taken to fractions of a seer. Another interesting fact is that some cultivators are charged Re. 1 per cent. Adhat and some annas 12 per cent. while traders only pay 8 annas Adhat per cart. Hamali and Dharmao at 4 and 2 annas per cart respectively are the same for all. One dispute over quality is recorded resulting in deduction of 2 annas per maund. The prices vary considerably but considering the dates this was probably due to difference in qualities. Dondaiche.--Sixteen cartloads of known weight (12 belonging to cultivators) were recorded and all weighed 2 to 4 seers per cart less except three where the discrepancy was considerably larger. The rates in this market compared unfavourably with Dhulia rates for the same date. The other answers do not bring out any point of importance. The investigators have not been very successful with the market investigations, indeed it appears that both buyers and dalals put obstacles in the way of their finding out exactly what deductions The cultivator has to submit to. Such information as has been obtained bears out the conclusions already arrived at, viz., that weighments are on the whole accurate but in several markets deductions are made to which cultivators object, and secondly, that the seller whether cultivator or trader-often does not get the rate at which the bargain is struck and has to submit to deductions enforced by the buyer.

·91 SUMMARY OF MARKET RECORDS. Xame of Dlarhet. Date Aumber of! Amount, ie, cultivators 1 produce sold. Yumber of a mount, ie, merchants produce soll REYK, ANALNER 2,937 78 .. 3rd December 1925 1th December 1925 20th January 1026 21st January 1926 22nd January 1928 23rd January 1928 34 33 35 Rs 8 1,503 50 2,727 10 0 2,754 11 3 1,828 11 0 1,539 7 9 16 15 15 15 10 9 R 6.939 140 7,013 2 6 8,331 5 9 8,401 39 7,563 7 8 7,413 11 6 41 80 19 310 5 3 41,713 13 6 DHOLIA 28th October 1023 29th October 1925 13th January 1928 16th January 1926 18th January 1920 19th January 1020 42 47 27 31 20 17 10,187 13 0 10,901 86 6,311 10 9 5,818 15 9 3,973 10 8 3 079 0 0 8 3 23 19 30 33 2,333 ? 0 1,899 1 0 10,819 7 0 7 559 14 0 7,839 0 3 5,99 1 10 9 184 40 307 106 116 36 417 6 0 DOXDLICHE 7th November 1925 J2ith\ovember 1923 17th January 1928 44 1$ 5 D 894 3 6 2003 1 8 9 306 11 3 Fesa 5 OGO 60 509 3 3 342) 63 03 11 008 0 3 0 089 0 SUCRPUR 6th Jannaty 1026 7th January 1926 8th January 1920 oth January 1020 10th January 1926 0 7 D 2210 4 3 BS! 8 3 2012 7 9 40314 3 36 > 16 3 دا - م دن کے 1,18% 8 6 486 3 3 4478 70 2 337 8 9 4 157 10 0 13 61 1970 19 19 120104 XANPORBAR 107 5 13 79 9 90 . 23th\ovember 1023 20th ovember 1923 13th January 19.20 15th January 10 26 0.333 0 1 301 03 413 11 0 157 09 174 6:37 30 + 202 133 31 4 203 10 0 JALO LOY 5 620 0 11 13 End December 1991 3rd December 1923 231 leromber 19 1h Termber 10.03 26th lleoerter 123 (16th January 10,9 3 000 40 40 400 30 1 Oct 13 0 1 94 40 1 730 8 23 22 416 0 HABEJI 1 13419 0 estuvoremler 1027 cotorerter 1920 1+ 15 0 2 126 19 0 6 11 50 PACHORA With Vormber Orthouetter 1943 0 :: 0 10 11 S 699 Pro 13 *** Tota! *.910 6 Tula Thow too late to at details.

·90 due to the fact that the 'home' weights were based on a different maund. In this market weights were taken to fractions of a seer. Another interesting fact is that some cultivators are charged Re. 1 per cent. Adhat and some annas 12 per cent, while traders only pay 8 annas Adhat per cart. Hamali and Dharmao at 4 and 2 annas per cart respectively are the same for all. One dispute over quality is recorded resulting in deduction of 2 annas per maund. The prices vary considerably but considering the dates this was probably due to difference in qualities. Dondaiche.-Sixteen cartloads of known weight (12 belonging to cultivators) were recorded and all weighed 2 to 4 seers per cart less except three where the discrepancy was considerably larger. The rates in this market compared unfavourably with Dhulia rates for the same date. The other answers do not bring out any point of importance. The investigators have not been very successful with the market investigations, indeed it appears that both buyers and dalals put obstacles in the way of their finding out exactly what deductions the cultivator has to submit to. Such information as has been obtained bears out the conclusions already arrived at, viz., that weighments are on the whole accurate but in several markets deductions are made to which cultivators object, and secondly, that the seller whether cultivator or trader-often does not get the rate at which the bargain is struck and has to submit to deductions enforced by the buyer.

·91 SUMMARY OF MARKET RECORDS. Dats Mage of Market. Number of Amount, ie, cultivators i produce sold umber of Amount, i. merchants produce solu REXANKY, ANALNER 18 3rd Deocraber 1925 4th December 1925 20th January 1926 21st January 1926 22nd January 1926 23rd January 1926 RS 1,502 50 2,987 7 8 2,727 100 2,751 11 3 1,828 11 9 1,539 7 9 33 35 35 40 41 Rs * 0,932 14 0 7,013 26 0,381 59 6,404 30 7,568 70 7,413 11 6 10 80 13 310 5 3 220 41 743 13 DIULIA 47 28th October 1923 20th October 1925 13th January 1928 (16th Jannary 1928 18th January 1920 J19th January 1926 10,187 13 0 10,901 88 6,311 10 9 5 818 13 9 3 973 10 6 3 079 00 8 3 23 19 30 33 31 20 17 2,353 0 2,899 40 10,812 7 0 7 558 16 0 7,839 0 3 5,994 10 9 36 447 6 0 184 40 307 106 116 DOYDAICHIE. J7th November 1925 24th November 192 17th January 1928 9 694 3 6 200) 1 6 9 306 11 3 6 3 14 5 6 000 0 0 309 3 3 3 499 93 to wowa 63 14 006 0 3 11 0 0896 SIERCE 9 7 6111 Jannary 1020 17th January 1026 8th January 10 26 9th January 1920 10th January 1928 210 43 8 8 3 2017 9 403 4 14 3 3 153 cst 19 1,182 86 480 3 3 4 478 70 2,337 8 9 4 157 10 23 13 01 12 70 1 0 11 19 842 43 XAYDURDAR 5 13 D 20 23th ovember 1923 cathloncmber 1925 13th Janu'rry 1026 15th January 1096 107 8 9 78,73 17 9 637 3 0 ܚܕܝܝ 2,333 5 0 1,301 93 413 11 0 157 09 22 4 202 133 31 1.207 10 JALGAOY 5 0800 2nd 1 other 1023 3rd Dronter 102 23rd December 102 21th Dember 1923 28th Dreiler 192 16th January 19.0 11 13 6 5020 1,350 40 4042 0 1,991 130 1.1 40 1991 13 9 1 1 750 0 737 SD 43 21,1% * Manel eth.oreroter 1921 30th Totemter 19 139 12 0 *** 1 123 12 0 L'ACRORA oth oictter 1993 enth Solember 19 18 1: : ** 3 d'absten tool. Behin ·92 2. COTTON FINANCE ENQUIRY--BERAR. (a) Village Investigations-Summary. (1) Twelve villages were selected for these enquiries, three each from the districts of Yeotmal, Amraoti, Buldana and Akola. Detailed replies have been received from 940 cultivators as under: Malkhed 46 YEOTMAL DISTRICT. Lakh 37 Kalamb 100 ht Total 183 Itki AMRAOTI DISTRICT .. Haturna Loni 58 47 75 Total 180 SHEGAON BULDANA DISTRICT.. Kherda Asalgaon 100 77 100 Total 277 AKOLA DISTRICT Sirsoo Gaigaon Batwadi 100 100 100 Total 300 Four replies are not complete owing to the cultivators being absent from the village at one or more stages of the investigation. Summaries of the information* obtained from each Village are attached. The same difficulty with regard to strict adherence to the different periods of enquiry laid down, as was experienced in the * Published separately.

·93 .. Khandesh investigation, was also found in Berar. The periods were modified as under: YEOTILAL DISTRICT 1st period—1-30th November 1925. 2nd period—1-31st December 1925. 3rd period—15th January 1926 to 20th March 1926. AMRAOTI DISTRICT 1st period-1-30th November 1925. 2nd period—1st December 1925 to 31st January 1926. 3rd period -1st February to 31st March 1926. BULDANA DISTRICT 1st periodist October to 30th November 1925. 2nd period--Ist November to 15th December 1925. 3rd period—1st January 1926 to 28th February 1926. AKOLA DISTRICT 1st period—Before 10th November 1925 to 7th December 1923. 2nd period—10th November 1925 to 15th January 1920. 3rd period-Darch and April 1926. It would appear advisable that, in similar enquiries in future, village investigations should be continued, say from Ist October to 31st March, and monthly records kept of the operations and transactions of each individual groter in a village over that period of time. (2) Total Holdings and colton areas. The total boldings and the cotton area of the cultivators recordcd in the 12 villages under investigation are approximately 30,980 ·94 and 16,860 acres, respectively. That is to say, 54:4 per cent. of the cultivated area recorded is under cotton, the remainder being under various grain crops, chiefly jowar. The average size of holding is approximately 33 acres. The following table shows the sub-division of the cultivators recorded according to the size of their holdings :: Small, i.e., below 15 acres 352 Medium, i.e., 15-50 acres 435 Medium large, i.e., 51-100 acres 112 Large, i.e., over 100 acres 37 Total 936 (4 unrecorded). Of the 940 cultivators recorded, 477 (507° l.) are proprietors, 159 (17° 7.) are tenants and 304 (32-3° 7.) are both proprietors and tenants. (3) Indebtedness. A good deal of information with regard to the extent of cultivators' borrowings is contained in the summaries and a statement is appended showing, village by village, the number of cultivators with and without advances, the total amount borrowed from different sources, the average amount borrowed per cultivator taking advances and the amounts taken under different rates of interest (Statement No. 1). Many cultivators complain of the exorbitant rates of interest charged by the village sowkars. The Chief Investigator remarks in his report that the poor seasons of the last two years are responsible for a considerable increase in village indebtedness. Out of 940 cultivators recorded, 595 (63-3 per cent.) have taken advances amounting in all to Rs. 3,47,338. The average borrowing per head is, therefore, Rs. 583. The maximum amount borrowed per head is Rs. 989 in Kalamb village and the minimum Rs. 145 in Kherda village.

·95 The average borrowings per acre of cotton, for the different classes of cultivators, are to be found in the village summaries. These are summarised below :- Average cash advance per acre of cotton. Village Small Jedium Jedium- Large Large Rs 2 Rs Rs & Rs 17 0 17 0 360 50 7 0 .. Malhlcd Lahh Kalamb Ithi Haturna Lopi Shegaon Kherda Asalgaon Sirsoo Gaigaon Batwadi 11 0 31 0 590 6 0 60 7 0 13 0 70 7 0 33 67 0 59 0 16 0 18 01 23 01 8 0 3 0 11 0 12 0 60) 10 0 31 0 0 31 70 N.. 23 0 0 MI N1 Nil. 1 0 Niz 27 0 58 0 N17 11 0 60 90 31 0 26 0 123 0 -- Although no attempt at a general enquiry into agricultural indebtedness was made, the figures recorded appear to justify the conclusion that indebtedness on the whole is moderato. There are very few instances recorded of cultivators taking loans in the form of cotton sced. No record as received of a cultivator having entered into a bond to sell his kapas through his money-lender. Only one cultivator sold any of his crop in advance. In this single case, only the crop remaining after two pickings was sold, and the cultivator received Rs. 100 for six acres. Advances recorded in the second period (i.e., subscquent to cultivation advanc are negligible. Many cultivators state that they are required to sell off their crop early in order to repay the money-lenders, but it is difficult to reconcile this assertion with the actual recorded times of sales, which will be discussed later on.

·96 of Relation between tenantry and indebtedness. Evidence recorded goes to show that there is a more or less close relationship between tenantry and indebtedness. In 9 villages investigated there are 119 tenants alone, of which 91 or 76.5 per cent. are debtors. In the same nine villages, there are 320 proprietors alone, of which 135 or 42-2 per cent. are debtors. However, though the percentage of debtors is greater in the case of tenants, the amount of debt incurred by proprietors is nearly three times that incurred by tenants. The incidence of debt per head in the case of tenant-debtors is Rs. 187, while in the case of proprietor-debtors it is Rs. 463. In Akola section, the Chief Investigator has shown that the debt taken by proprietors is nearly seven times that taken by tenants. This result is to be anticipated from consideration of the wider credit which is generally at the disposal of proprietor-cultivators in comparison with tenant-cultivators. Source of borrowings. The appended Statement No. 1 shows the different sources of borrowing and the total amount borrowed from each source in each village under investigation. The principle source borrowings is, as in Khandesh, the village sowkar or money-lender. In Yeotmal, Amraoti and Buldana districts out of a total sum of Rs. 1,52,580 taken by cultivators in advances, no less than Rs. 1,39,980 (91•7 per cent.) was obtained from the sowkar. In comparison with this, the other sources of borrowing are of minor importance. It is noteworthy that, at least in these three districts co-operative finance is practically never made use of. This is quite in contradistinction to Khandesh where, on the whole, co-operative societies advanced reasonably large amounts to the cultivators. In the Akola district, however, out of a total sum of Rs. 1,94,758 taken in advances, Rs. 1,01,257 or approximately 52 per cent. was borrowed from some co-operative institution, e.g., society or bank. The record of loans taken from dalals or traders is negligible and is in definite contradistinction to the commonly expressed opinion that many cultivators are financed by such traders, either on condition of selling their crop through them or of mortgaging all or part of it in advance. This may be due in part to the circumscribed character of the enquiry but, taken in conjunction with the evidence from Khandesh, it would appear to indicate that such forms of financing are being definitely abandoned in these cotton-growing tracts.

·97 Rate of interest on loans. Statement No. appended shows the total amounts borrowed in each village classified according to the rates of interest demanded. As might be expected in villages where the only real source of advances is the sowkar, the general level of interest charges is high and the almost universal complaint of the cultivators recorded in this connection seems to be justified, Out of a total borrowing of Rs. 3,47,338, Rs. 72,693 or 20-9 per cent. was lent at rates of interest above 20 per cent. per annum. Only Rs. 29,261 or 8.4 per cent. was lent at under 12 per cent. This includes Rs. 1,980 borrowed from relatives on which no interest was stated to be charged. The great bulk of advances taken Rs. 2,45,384 or 70-7 per cent. was given on rates of interest varying from 12 to 20 per cent. It is noteworthy that during the village enquiries at Gaigaon & village in Akola section, it was found out that certain land-owners had been borrowing considerable sums from co-operative credit societies at 12 per cent. and, at the same time, were advancing varying amounts to small cultivators at 24 per cent. That such action is possible denotes a want of safeguards by the co-operative credit societies in their financing transactions. Special mention may be made of the “sawai” system of making advances which seems to be common in some villages, notably Kalamb where Rs. 22,145 out of a total of Rs. 70,236 was advanced in this way. Money-lenders in the villages advances loans to cultivators on mortgage of land. Thesc loans are generally for short periods—3-6 months and carry the privilege of renewal. Debts contracted in this way are mostly for agricultural purposes and have to be repaid, either in money or in kind, after harvest by one quarler more than the amount received by the money-lender. Altogether Rs. 36,135 or 23.7 per cent. of the total advances recorded were taken on sawai, i.e., at 50 to 100 per cent. per annum. 4. Yield of kapas. Statement No. 2 attached shows the yield of kapas, total and per acre, in each of the villages under investigation. The yield per acre varies considerably averaging 02 lbs. in Buldana district, 210 lbs. in Amraoti district and 152 lbs. in Ycotmal district. Only in Amrooti district is the crop said to be better than last year; whereas, in Buldana district, it is reported to be almost a failure.

·08 The average yields per acre for each class of cultivator in each Village recorded are tabulated below :- Yield of kapas per acre (lbs.) District. Village Sinall inder 15 Cros. Medium 15-50 ncros. Medium- Largo 50-100 ncres. Largo over 100 acres. Ycotmal 105 >> Amroti alkhcd Lakh Kalamb.. Itki Haturn Loni Shegaon Kherda Asalgaon Sirsoo Gaignon Batwadi 1.54 72 200 264 2014 153 222 89 141 255 177 121 Buldana 259 174 205 402 178 135 25* 121 41 181 102 152 133 231 108 139 43 105 40 93 122 127 61 Akola 71 28 73 130 126 64 37 125 114 106 5. Salcs. (a) Method of sale. The total amount of kapas produced by the cultivators recorded in the villages under investigation was approximately 22,29,244 lbs. Of this amount :- (a) 11,65,887 lbs. (52.3%) were sold in villages. (6) 7,73,251 (34.7%) were sold in markets. (c) 2,90,106 (13• %) were unsold at the close of the investigation. Statement No. 3 attached shows the percentage of local and market sales, village by village. The local sales were made mostly to petty cotton merchants and many cultivators state that they prefer this method of sale as they thereby avoid the difficulties, discomforts and incovenience encountered in the markets. Hoirever, the majority of sales were made in regulated markets and considerable information has been obtained with regard to the system of sale in such centres. Summaries of this information will be * Only one cultivator with 124 acres under cotton.

·99 1 found under " replies regarding general information" on the village sheets attached.* The system of cotton markets in Berar has been carefully organised and regulated and all the recognised markets arc managed by Market Committees and governed by market laws and regulations. This enquiry, however, brings out most clearly that the theory of management is considerably better than the practice in most of the markets and that there is considerable scope for improvement in the interests of the cultivators. From replies received, the chief complaints of the sellers are:- (1) The rate of sale fixed in the market is hardly ever adhered to and the cultivator does not know what actual rate he will receive for his kapas until weighment is started or, in some cases, completed. Several cultivators said that the rate was not disclosed until final payment was made by the adatya. (2) The adatyas have unduc power in the markets and they are found to work mostly in the interests of the buyers. This is said to be due to the fact that the cotton growers are unrepresented or inadequately represented on the Market Committees. All market sales have to be conducted through adatyns. (3) There is a very general complaint of unfair deductions, both in money and in kind, from the seller at the time of weighment and final payment for his kapas. These deductions are generally , said to be on account of particular reasons affecting the quality of the kapas,c.g., rain damage, black leaf, boll vorn stain, lust pickings, etc., etc. Such dcductions amount to 14-28 lbs. of kapas per cart and, though originally fixed by the market committees as compensation for inferior quality, have now become a general practice. In Amraoti market, cvery cart of koprs was subject to a deduction of 2 dhadas (14 lbs.) this season, irrespective of the quality of kapas it contained. Several cultivators record that a dcduction of 1 dhnda per cart is made in cloudy weather. Likewise many cultivators state that they are required to give small quantities of kapas to market meninls, ireighmen and ginning factory cmployees. . L'ublin * ds.

·98 The average yields per acre for each class of cultivator in each village recorded are tabulated below:- Vield of kapns por ncro (lbs.) I!istrict. Villagc. Small udler 15 &crcs. Medium 15-50 acres. Medium- Largo 50-100 icres. Largo over 100 acres. J'cotmal 72 209 204 Amrioti > talleled Lurkh Knlamb.. Ithi Hintura l.oni Shegnon Klerdin Asalgnon Siroo Goignon Batwadi 153 Buldann 105 94 133 231 198 139 43 105 40 93 122 127 222 S9 141 285 177 121 61 04 37 125 114 106 259 174 205 402 178 135 25* 121 41 181 102 152 Akoln 28 73 130 120 5. Salcs. (a) Method of sale. The total amount of kapas produced by the cultivators recorded in the villages under investigation was approximately 22,29,244 lbs. Of this amount:-. (a) 11,65,887 lbs. (52.3%) were sold in villages. (0) 7,73,251 (34.7%) were sold in markets. (c) 2,90,106 (13• %) were unsold at the close of the investigation. Statement No. 3 attached shows the percentage of local and market sales, village by village. The local sales were made mostly to petty cotton merchants and many cultivators state that they prefer this method of sale as they thereby avoid the difficulties, discomforts and incovenience encountered in the markets. However, the majority of sales were made in regulated markets and considerable information has been obtained with regard to the system of sale in such centres. Summaries of this information will be * Only one cultivator with 124 acres under cotton.

·99 found under " replies regarding general information" on the rillage sheets attached.* The system of cotton markets in Berar has been carefully organised and regulated and all the recognised markets are mans cd by Market Committees and governed by market lairs and remote lations. This enquiry, however, brings out most clearly that theory of management is considerably better than the practice most of the markets and that there is considerable scope improvement in the interests of the cultivators. From replies received, the chief complaints of the selle (1) The rate of sale fixed in the market is hardisease to and the cultivator does not knot ribat he will receive for his kapas until weigheden or, in some cases, completed. Several cm TED that the rate was not disclosed until fimm made by the adatya. (2) The adatyas have undue power in the are found to work mostly in the internet to the This is said to be due to the fact that the enter unrepresented or inadequately represented on their All market sales have to be conducted in the (3) There is a very general complement there both in money and in kind, from the substante in and final payment for his kapas. Tiesas said to be on account of particular toes the kapas, c.g., rain damage, black leszi, ctc., etc. Such deductions amonet to and, though originally fixed by the three pensation for inferior quality, bato 17 Jan In Amraoti market, every carter The of 2 dhadas (14 lbs.) this season in it contained. Several cultimetreye sokan dhada per cart is made in der vators state that they are so many to market menials, weight ملعی ·100 Deductions in the price are equally common and are referred to in para. 1 above. These deductions are specially marked at Amraoti market, where the prices actually received by sellers were Rs. 10 to 35 per khandi under the declared rate. A typical case is recorded by one cultivator from Loni village who took a cart to market where it was purchased without a rate being announced. After 2 or 3 pallas had been wreighed, the adatya said the rate would bc Rs. 105. But the buyer would only give Rs. 95 and the seller had eventually to accept this rate. One other cultivator says there is no limit to deductions if the seller is ignorant." (4) A few cultivators complain that, although beam scales are useci for weighing and are quite satisfactory, the mode of weighment is bad and the weighmen manipulate the weighing in the buyers' interest. There is no complaint that the cultivators do not receive money in full from the adatyas, although in some cases, inconvenience is caused by such payment being delayed until late at night. The adatyas charge 2 annas per Rs. 100 as commission if payment is made in cash instead of in notes. All the cultivators recorded, with very few exceptions, have declared themselves in favour of open markets provided rates are fixed by competition and open bidding and declared at the actual time of sale. Several cultivators thought that carts should be valued individually and the rates declared in the market. The following table shows the method of sale, i.e., in market or village or both, by different classes of cultivators. Lint sales are also noted: Sales made in Class of Cultivator. Lint sale. Both village and market. Village. Market. 6 Small under 15 acres Medium 15-50 acres Medium-Large 50-100 acres Large over 100 acres 282 246 57 3 180 303 95 39 24 9 Nil. 5 9 6 1 ·101 Turther information in detul regarding marhet sales is to be found under marhet investigation reports (6) Sales of lint By far the great majority of the cultu ators recorded sold their hapas in an unginned condition Only 19 cases of actual sales of lint are recorded although there is evidence to show that a considerable proportion of the lapas unsold at the termination of the enquiry would be ginned and sold as lint As all lint sales were made in the 3rd period of the investigation and rates were not given, it is not possible to institute a complete comparison between the profits of lint sale is compared with hapas salc The following example is, however, quoted in detul by the Chief Investigator Culturator (No si of Lon village) Quantity of hapas Rate offered Estimated value 35 hhandies=21,000 lbs Rs 105 per 784 lbs Rs 2,813 Actually received after ginning and lint sale 10 bojas at Rs 152 Rs 3,050 10 bojas at Rs 153 Add-Value of seed at Rs 15 per hhandi 300 1 3,350 140 Deduct-Gining charges, etc Actual amount received 3,210 He, therefore, received Rs 397 or approximately Rs. 11/6 per khandi of hapas more by ginning and selling lint The additional profit of lint sales is realised by several culti- Vators who state that, if they cannot get a good price for their hapas, they would deposit it for ginning and subsequent sale of lint Tho following difficulties in the way of doing this arc mentioned (a) Small groners cannot make these arrangements ·102 (6) Risk of loss in ginning factory by theft, etc. (c) Want of storage accommodation. (d) Lint sales are made late (March-May) and cultivators cannot afford to wait for money. (e) Insurance charges are heavy. (c) Time and rates of sales.--The following table gives the percentage of kapas picked up to the end of the 2nd period of the investigation and the percentage of picked kapas sold at that time :- of Percentage of Distriet. Village. Approximate date Percentage of Percentage of of end of 2nd total crop picked crop period. picked. sold. Yeotinal .. Dalkhed ..31st December 1925. 62 % 41 % .. Laku .. 31st December 1925. 59 % 19 % Kalamb 31st December 1925. 65 % 36 % Amraoti .. Itki 31st December 1925. Not recorded. Haturna ..31st December 1925. Do. .. .. Loni .. .. 31st January 1926. Dlo. Buldana Shegaon .. 30th November 1925 56 % 48% Khorda 15th December 1925 88% 57 % Asalgaon ..30th November 1925 48 % 32 % .. Akola Sirsoo 26th November 1925 Not recorded, .. Gaigaon .. 8th January 1926. Dlo. Batwadi .. Dlo. .. 15th January 1926. .. Do. These figures do not appear-except perhaps in Buldana district--to indicate any extreme urgency to dispose of his kapas on the part of the cultivator. An attempt has been made, from the evidence recorded to give the number of sales :- (a) made before 31st December 1925; (6) made between 31st December 1925 and end of investigation.

·103 This information is tabulated below and the following table indicates the distribution of early and late sales according to classes of cultivators Village Early bales before 31st December 1925 Late sales after 31st December 1925 Percentage of total crop unsold at end of enquiry on Malkhed Lakh Kalamb Itki Haturna Loni Shegaon Kherda Asalgaon Sirsoo Gaigaon Batwadi 29 25 7) 20 17 31 58 63 20 86 61 80 37 37 98 05 45 65 79 42 86 42 74 33 33 on 16th February 1926 13% on 28th February 1926 on 20th March 1926 20 On March 1926 37 March 1926 9 on March 1926 14 on 14th February 1926 10 % on 1st March 1926 15 % on Gth February 1926 1.5% on 8th March 1926 65% on 8th March 1926 16 % on 17th April 1926 Class of Cultivators Number of early sales before 31st December 192 Number of lata gales after 31st December 1920 Small under 15 acres 201 251 Medium 15 50 acres 237 318 Medium Large 50 100 acres 71 81 Large over 100 acres 22 20 As in Khandesh, those who sold their crops early got better rates than those who held up their hapis until after December Many cultu ators appear to hare held up considerable portions of their crop until after the end of the year in the hope of getting better rates and it appears that as in hhandesh, there is no severe pressure to sell owing to lack of finance ·104 The rates obtained in the markets were higher than those obtained by village sales, but the difference does not appear to be nearly so great, as was found in Khandesh. A better comparison would have been possible if the rates of late sales had been recorded. Such figures were, however, not called for in the questionnaire and the information on this point is unfortunately incomplete. Special notes on sales are attached under “Summary of Sales” to the village summaries. A statement of the weights commonly used in the villages under investigation is attached. (Statement No. 4.)

·STATEMENT No. 1. Berar Cotton Finance Enquiry. Abstract of Adrances recorded. i mber of cult TALOTS recorded Source of Advance Total is under cach head Rntcs of Interest Total Rs under each head Name of Village Total Average amount amount taken per head in Ad yanccs Towers Without With Advance Advance Co-ope rative Bociety for Bank Bowler Land Adatyaa lords Other of bor Below 12 18 18 20 Over 20 Sawal 12 Tier per cent per cent per cent ccat Nel Rs Ils Mallbed 39 13 010 2 801 1 00 17 191 439 600 17 400 30 2 500 831 lectual lah 0 31 11 A83 11 883 383 1 200 B 80 500 3 433 Kalamb ng 08 541 875 820 0236 099 810 5 031 20 000 1260 2 830 28 145 105 3999 1 40 3 420 187 3 275 Ambacht 1 020 525 11 UTT. 18 BS 282) 157 05 1 005 100 793 3 AIDO 3*35 11 095 239 330 2395 3 014 1 885 1 46 67 16 000 800 "Irfann Ktop 17 400 300 11 30 ► Datas 39 89 Ant 100 150 30 3 500 14. GO 500 291 200 1 20 10 100 18-0 3 800 89 10,5 183 89 501 150 "Irko ** 0.1 40 303 03 314 B. {9 800 00 19 743 Gunung & GORG 8000 8 319 1 031 8 000 65311 210 85 63 33123 63 12 010 20 600 13 030 7105 ·106 STATEMENT No. 2. Area under cotton and yield per acre of the villages investigated. District. Village. Area (Acres.) Total yield (lbs.) Yield per acre (lbs.) 1 2 3 4 5 Yeotmal Lakh Lakh Malkhed Kalamb 758 1,209 2,111 78,768 250,226 305,833 104 207 145 >> Amraoti Haturna Itki 195 926 1,125 1,410 180,000 337,800 190,800 .. Loni 300 135 Buldana Asalgaon Kherda Shegaon 1,330 1,056 1,578 >> 41 98 46 55,830 103,512 72,221 . > Akola Sirsoo Gaigaon Batwadi 2,105 2,118 1,236 281.344 244,720 128,380 133 115 104 . . . Note.--Area cultivated by recorded cultivators only has been shown. STATEMENT No. 3. Berar Cotton Enquiry-Disposal of Kapas. Percentage of Kapas. Name of Village. Total quantity of kapas produced in lbs. Sold in village. Sold at market Unsold. YEOTMAL DISTRICT. .. Malkhed Lakh Kalamb 200,200 78,700 305,800 26.7 1 88-3 40.6 85.2 32.7 on 15th February. 13.8 on 28th on 20th Marci.

·107 STATEMENT No. 3-contd. Berar Collon Enquiry-contd. ABIRAOTI DISTRICT. 31.7 Itki Haturna Loni 337,800 180,000 190,800 i 4 6 48 62 3 84 5 20 3 on 31st March, 37.7 on 31st March, 9 on 31st March BULDANA DISTRICT. Shegaon Kherda Asalgaon 72,200 103,500 65,800 54 0 33 9 60 7 31.4 66 40 7 14 on 14th February 10 l on 28th Februari 16 on 6th Februar AKOLA DISTRICT. .. Sirsoo Gaigaon Batwadi 281,344 214,720 128,380 5 25 21 03 5 01 73 15 on 8th Jarch 65 on 8th March 6 on 17th April STATEMENT No. 4. I'eights used for hapas in the villages and markets 1911 csligalai. (1) YEOTJAL DISTRICT. 1. Malkhed. i Maund=19 Seers. 20 Jaunds= 1 Nandı. 2. Kalamb. i Jaund=19 Seers, 20 Mlaunds= 1 Khandı. 3. Laku. 1 laund=16 Seers. 20 Jnunds=i Khandi.

·108 (2) AMRAOTI DISTRICT. 1. Itki. I Maund =15 Seers, . 20 Maunds=1 Khandi. 2. Haturna. I Maund —15 Seers. 20 Aaunds= 1 Khandi. 3. Loni. i Maund =15 Seers. 20 Maunds= 1 Khandi. (3) BULDANA DISTRICT. 1. Asalgaon. 1 Maund =20 Seers. 7 Two different 1 Maund = 14 Seers. weights are preralent. 20 Maunds=1 Khandi. 2. Kherda. 1 Maund =28 Seers. 20 Maunds= 1 Khandi. 3. Shegaon. 1 Mlaund =-14 Seers. 28 Alaunds= 1 Khandi. . (4) AKOLA DISTRICT. 1. Sirsoo. 1 Naund = 14 Seers. 28 Maunds=i Khandi. 2. Gaigaon. 1 Maund = 14 Seers. 28 Maunds=1 Khandi. 3. Batwadi. i Jaund 14 Seers. 28 Maunds=i Khandi. (5) IN BERAR MARKETS. 28 lbs. 1 Maund. 28 Maunds= 1 Khandi. (6) Market Enquiry-- Summary. The investigators made enquiries in the following Berar cotton markets and a complete and interesting report of their investigations has been received from the Director of Agriculture, Central Provinces, and is appended in full :-(1) Khamgaon, (2) Shegaon, (3) Akola, (4) Balapur, (5) Yeotmal, (6) Darwa, (7) Vole. In the villages of Yeotmal district and in a few others of the other districts of Berar ordinary stones are used for weights. These are only approximate and are generally heavier by a few tolas than the standard weight.

·109 Amraoti, (8) Daryapur, (9) Wun, (10) Pandharkayada, (11) Jalgaon. In addition to the report, individual informatory sheets for each of the above markets were submitted by the investigators. For the purpose of recording replies from individuals bringing kapas to market, nine market centres were selected. Individual replies were collected from 2,343 persons at different periods of the season. The markets selected and the dates of investigator's enquiries are tabulated below:- Name of Market Xovember December January February March 14th 20th 17th 18th Khamgaon Shegaon Alola Jalgaon Leotmal 123rd 14th 15th 4th, 10th 19th 12th, 20th 2eth 1st, 2nd 3r, 6th 3rd 5th 23N, Pith 7th, 11th 20th 28th 23nd 24th Darwa 8th, 11th, 23rd 22nd 21th 1st, Oth, 10th ith 11th, 20th, th, sth 15th 2nd 16th, 17th 11th 15th, 23rd 14th 23rd 15th, 16th 20th Amraoti Balapur Bano-3 18th, 10th J28th, 30th (2nd, 6th 17th . Also on 22nd October General information to be obtained for each market :- A copy of the questionnaire will be found on page 67. Questions (1 and 2)-Management of market.--All thic markets investigated were managed by Market Committees. The various constitutions of the market committees are given below:- No of representatives from Dlarkets. Cotton traders. Junicipality. Sapitation Pancbayat Khamgaon Shegaon Akola Jalgaon Yeotmal Daria Amraoti Balapur Banosa . Cici CICICI د د د د د د ن به ده 1:1:"16041 ·110 In no market recorded, are the cultivators directly represented on the market committee. Details of the market staffs were given in the market sheets and were tabulated in the investigators' report. Copies of subsidiary rules and bye-laws framed by the market committees of (1) Akola (2) Darwa, (3) Yeotmal have been supplied along with the investigators' report, Question (3) --Conduct of Sales.---The system of sale in all the markets recorded is similar. The carts assemble in the morning and the buyers and adatyas mect and fix the rate to be offered that day for fine quality cotton. This rate is announced and posted on the market board. The seller then obtains his adatya who purchases a numbered pass from the market daroga which is attached to the cart to be sold. Then the buyers and adatyas visit the carts and settle upon a rate according to the quality of the cotton. In most markets, this fixing of rate is done under cover. In one or tiro smaller markets There arrivals are few bidding is open and the seller may refuse or accept the rate offered. In most cases, however, the seller does not know the rate until weighment has commenced and the real bargaining is done in the weighing place i.e., the ginningfactory compound. The deductions, both in price and in kind, at the time of weighment is the chief complaint of the cultivators and it is beyond doubt that these deductions are most excessive and constitute a real hardship to the seller. In Yeotmal market the buyer marks the wheel of the cart with a number of crosses in chalk. Each cross represent a deduction of Rs. 5 per khandi from the declared market rate on account of rain damage, inferior quality, etc. Question (4)-All cultivators must utilise the services of adatyas in making sales at recognised market centres. Questions (5 and 6)-Adatyas and brokers. The buyers all employ adatyas to act for them in market transaction. The same adatya acts for both buyer and seller, but it is obvious that he is the buyer's man and acts in his interests. The adatyas have servants who move about the market and seek out new business for their masters. The larger firms of buyers employ “brokers" for pur- * These and other details will be found in the ful} report on the enquiry u bich has been published separately.

·111 chasing their hapas These broers always act in the interests of the buyers and their duties cease after the actual purchase is made. They do not, like adatyas, see to weighment, and payment of rates Question (7)–Adiances on hapas --There are very few instances recorded of cotton being deposited for sale and advances taken thereon Some factory owners undertake to store kapas in their factory compounds provided the owner agrees to get it ginned in that factory On such hapas advances up to 60 per cent of its value are made by the factory owners at rates of interest varying from 15-20 per cent Details of such advances were tabulated at the end of the investigators' report and it is noteworthy that only 4 3 per cent of the cultivators recorded have had recourse to this system. Questions (8 and 9)--Fixing of rates --The daily rate to be offered in each market is fixed by the buyers and adaty as and is posted up on the market board The method used is described in the investigator s report In some cotton markets, Bombay rates are posted but as the cultivators do not hnow the method of worhing out the marhet rate for hapas from the Bombay rate per hhandı of lint (Oomras) this is not very helpful to them * In Khamgnon, Ahola and Darwa marhet, daily telegrams are recented from Bombay and posted in the market, every morning The rate of the day is posted on a board in each market In Khamgaon marhet, the posting of the rate is announced by the ringing of a bell Question (10) Storage in market -The only place for storage in the marhets is in ginning factory compounds Storage of hapas is not resorted to by the cultivators on any large scale, is there is much rish of theft, etc Some factory on nors gnc advances against hapis stored in the gin compounds, reference question (7) abore Question (11)--Records -Records of daily arials and rates are maintained by the marhet committecs in all the marhets Ir. corded The investigators have submitted a statement showing the number of arrivals and the market rate daily from 1st October 1925 to 30th June 1926 in Khamgaon, Yeotmal, Darr, Ammoti, Bi nosa, tholi, Balapur and Shegion markets. This statement is not attached to this report but is available for reference "Tir por los el 1419147 ta' sentirutisten to asseditelkor elintas el market ·112 a statement showing the total arrival of carts (1) for season cncling 29th May 1925, (2) for season ending 29th May 1926, at 26 Berar markets is included in the report. Questions (12 & 13) TV'cighments.--The following statement gives the system of weighment in usc in the markets under investigation :- Dlarket. Methods of weighment. Weights commonly used for kapas. 56 lb. lots. . . 28 lb. lots. Khamgaon Shegaon Akola Jalgaon Ycotmal Daria Amraoti Balnpur Banosa Beam scales. Beam scales. Beam scales. .. Benm scales. Avery platform balance. .. Avery platform balance. Beam scales. Beam scales. 28 lb. lots. 56 lb. lots. There are no general complaints by the cultivators with regard to weighments. Some state that as there are no weights under 7 lbs (1 dhada) in use, the last quantity of kapas weighed, if under this amount, is ignored and the cultivator loses thereby. The weighmen are also said to be dishonest in some cases and liable to manipulate the weighing to the advantage of the buyer. The position of the weigh-men in the various markets is as under :- Khamgaon Servants of adatyas and not required to be licensed by the cotton market. Shegaon Engaged by adatya and paid by buyer at rate of 5-6 carts to the rupee. They are licensed by the cotton market committee. Akola .. Servants of adatyas and are paid at the rate of 0-2-3 per khandi of kapas weighed. Payment by buyer. Jalgaon Licensed by cotton market committee and paid by seller. Yeotmal Licensed by cotto et committe Darwa.. Licensed by cott com } ·113 per khandi Amraoti Licensed by cotton market committee weighing charge is 9 annas 6 annas to cooles for weighing and staching and 3 annas to freighman Paid ha'f by purchaser and half by seller Balapur As at Ahola Banosa Licensed by cotton marhet committee, license fec Rs 5 per annum Paid by buyer at rate of Rs 0 23 per hhandi of hapas weighed Question (14)-Deductions --Market deductions include adat, marhet cess, gorakshan, charity, dispensary, freighing charge, hamalı and toll tar They total from Rs 11 9 in Yeotmal to Rs 280 in Khamgaon The deductions at the various marhet centres are described in detail in the investigators' report and a tabulated statement of the various deductions in ench market recorded is included The cultivators do not have much complaint to male about these customary deductions vluch appear to be generally accepted They are unanimous, however, in their opinion with regard to deductions made at the time of weighment for alleged inferior quality or rain damaged hapis These deductions are very common both in money and in hind ind indications are not wanting that, in some markets, they are becoming customary irrespective of the quality of hapas Individual ansiders Individual replies were received from 2,343 persons in ning different market centres as under Individual replies recorded Name of Blachet Actual Petty Sier Both growers Gromers chants and merchants Khamgaon Shegaon 120 Akola 913 1. Jalgaon GO 20 Yeotmal 392 Darms Amruoti Balapar 2-3 Banosa 26 Totals 310 51 9 8 1 .. 333 26 17 163 ·114 It can be seen from the above table that the percentage of caits brought in by cultivators is very large (86.5° l.). In no market investigated was the majority of carts brought in by petty traders as was found to be the case in several instances in Khandesh. The rates actually settled and received as compared with quoted market rate. As in Khandesh, the information supplied is not sufficient on which to base any real comparison between the quoted market rate and the rate actually received by the cultivators. However, the rate of sale is given in practically every case recorded and, as the date of the enquiry is also recorded, it has been found possible to tabulate some figures illustrating the variation of rates in different markets at different periods of the season. This statement is appended (Statement A). It shows clearly that, as in Khandesh, the best prices were received by cultivators who sold their kapas early and that, during the season under investigation,“ holding for higher prices" must have proved a most unprofitable speculation. In January, February and March, very few bales realised a higher rate than Rs. 116 per khandi and the percentage of sales of " black leafʼ cotton, at under Rs. 80 per khandi in these three months is very high. Examination of the tabulated figures will show that there were two definite rates of sale in each month, firstly the rate íor fine quality and secondly the rate for inferior “black leaf” or raindamaged quality. As prices become lower, the percentage of sales on this second and lower rate increases considerably. Deductions. The evidence collected from individuals under “ deductions from price” is incomplete and, in many cases, is confined to a mere statement of the ordinary market deductions, e.g., adat, hamali gorakshan, etc. There can be no doubt, however, that these deductions were very large both in number and extent and that very few sellers indeed realised the declared market rate for their kapas. Khamgaon Market. November Declared market rate was Rs. 133-138, only 42°/. of sales recorded got over Rs. 132.

·1 15 January Declared market rate was Rs. 120-115, only 26° of sales got Rs. 112-116. February Declared market rate on 17th was Rs. 107; out of 91 sales, only 200%. got over Rs. 104. March Declared market rate on 18th as Rs. 107; out of 34 sales, only 18°/. got over Rs. 104. Similarly Darua Narket. January-Declared market rate was 7-1-26-Rs. 118 Out of 216 sales recorded on 11-1-26-Rs. 119 20-1-26-Rs. 119 these days, only 2.8 per cent. 21-1-26--Rs. 119 got over Rs. 116. Similarly Balapur Alarket, November .. Declared market rate on 28th November 1923 was Rs. 123. On 30th November 1925, out of 50 sales, 34 per cent. got above Rs. 120. December Declared market rate on 10th and 17th was Rs. 116 out of 140 sales, only 25 per cent got Rs. 116 or over. January Declared market rates were- Ilth-Rs. 122 12th-Rs. 120 only II per cent. got above 15th--Rs. 115 Rs. 116 and only 30 per cent, 23rd-Rs. 110 abovo Rs. 112. kola Marhet. March Declared rate on 3rd was Rs. 108. Out of 74 sales from 3rd-6th, only 18 per cent. Sot above Rs. 104 and only I per cent. above Rs. 108. The above instances could be multiplied at any of the other markets Tecorded but they may be sufficient to indicate the divcrgcace between the rates actually declared on tho market board and the rates received by the sellers on the same day.

·STATEMENT A. Sales Summary: REMARKS. Namo of Market. Dates of Inquiry. Percontage Distribution of Sales recorded accordiog to ratcs received la Market, per khandi of 784 Ibs. No. of Sales. Under Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Over Rs. 80. 80-90 90-100 100/14 104/1-108/1- 112/1-110/1- 120/1-121/1- 128/1-Rs. 132 104 108 112 110 120 12 128 132 Rs. Rs. Declared Barket rate. NOVEMBER. 14th-20th 200 5.8 0.2 19.0 8.1 2.4 15.8 12.1 138. • • .. . . Khamgaon Shegaon Alola Jalgaon Yeotmal Darwa Amraoti Balapur Banosa 2. 30 7.8 6.6 7.8 3rd-6th. 7011-11th-26th--28th. 23rd & 24th. 18th & 19th. 30th. 2nd & Oth. 60 90 54 81 50 58 9.9 :: 25,5 7.4 18.5 2. 4.0 2. 08. 120,121, 16.7 139, 3.4.6 138,136. 66.7 22.2 0. 10.3 0.2 8.7 10. 10. ::: i: 2 20. 27.6 116 72.1 60.4 128,135. DECEMBER 23rd, 14th & 15th, 4th-16th. 20.2 70 71 186 1.4 6.3 2.8 .5 8.9 4.2 3.8 35.4 79.7 7. 29.a 52.2 13. 19.7 24.2 120 on 2/1. 118,110. 127, 39.9 5.3 . .. Khamgaon Shegaori. Akola Jalgaon Yeotmal Darva Amraoti Balapur Baboss 7. .; ::ia : 37.3 7.8 8th-11th--23rd & 24th. 1st, Oth–10th. 8th. 16th & 17th. 14th. 2 142 100 73 140 60 1.4 2.7 .7 0.6 0.6 :: 50,7 2. 0.8 13.6 6. 25. 13.7 77.2 3. 5.5 15.1 68.6 38. 26. 8.2 1.4 2. 10. 27.4 7,1 119,112. 130,120,120 130. 110. 120. 2. 62. JANUARY. 19th. 12th & 20th, 82 117 2.4 11.1 1.2 3.4 2.4 7.7 33.1 28.2 29.3 20.8 11.1 116. 110,114. .. . . Khamgaon Shegaon Akola Jalgaon Yeotmal Darwa Amraoti Balapur Banosa 17 15.5 17. • 26th 22nd. 7th, 11th, 20th & 27th. 15th. 11th, 12th, 15th & 23rd. 23rd. 0.5 7.8 15.3 1.5 14. 6.3 51 215 09 203 04 1.8 4.8 9.4 17. 2. 5.0 74.5 12.3 11. 2. 4.2 13. 13.0 23,4 19.4 2. 26,3 8.0 10.0 3.1 24.0 76. 18.1 10.2 18.0 21.0 0.8 35.9 1.5 19.1 34.3 2.8 10.6 10.6 10.8 .7 115. 110,112, 122. 122,116,110. 114.

·STATEMENT A-continued. Sales Summary_conid Percentago Distribution of Sales recorded according to rates recelsed in Market per khandi of 785 lb. REXARKS Declared Alarket Tate Yo of Dates of Inguly Under Ra Rs 80 80-00 RE NA NS Rs Rs Rs R: 18 Orcs 90-100 100/ 1304/1-108/1- 112/ 1116/1- 120/14 1:4/1-128/1 Rs 133 104 109 112 116 120 124 129 132 TEDXTAXT 91 17th 26 19 107 6 22 17 1 71 LO7 19tad 100 II 7 83 4 117 tams Atria Jan Yrama! Inazw Amrti Talarut 35 8 19 7 v 11:11h. ith & 16th. Oth 38 09 17 ! 83 60 GS 63 8 7 10 3 116 117 116 120 156 59 6) 1:1 39 6 1th. 120 NACO 43. 11 8 176 16 7 11 B 107 110 SM-eth 393 10 8 08 17 3 1 3 109 Khuron thwa Ar la Joxca. Yrimel IMY Art Halafu HADO ·118 3. NORTH GUJARAT INVESTIGATIONS. . 44 (a) Village Enquiry Summary. (1) For the purposes of this inquiry, the investigators worked from three centres, Viramgam, Bavla and Morvi. In all, records were taken from 1,065 cultivators in 15 villages as under :- (i) Viramgam centre Hansalpur Bhojva 40 Vani 15 Detroj Dumana .. 44 Dhakdi 37 117 297 $ Bavla 127 (2) Bavla centre .. 100 50 Rupal Derun Chaloda Visalpur .. 100 . 100 477 97 (3) Morvi centre.. 78 Jetpur Mota Dahisara Zankara .. Barvalla .. 59 57 291 ·119 (2) As the inquiry work did not actually begin until the end of February and, as the crop was, on an average, 1-2 months earlier than in a normal year, it was not found possible to adhere to the periodic nature of the investigations as contemplated in the questionnaires As a matter of fact, in the Viramgam and Bar la centres, much of the hapas or lallas (bolls) was already in the hands of the purchasers before the inquiry commenced This late start of the inquiry was most unfortunate as the investigators were quite unable to obtain reliable evidence of early sales and the records are practically confined to cultivators' advances and the ultimate disposal of their produce Intermediate observations between the first picking and the final sales of hapas or kallas have not been made and, to that extent, this investigation does not furnish as complete information as was desired In any future investigations of this nature, it appears most desirable that records should be continuous or that, at the least, arrangement should be made to obtain records at three definite stages (1) before any cotton is picked, (2) during piching and after some carly sales have been made and (3) after picking is completed and the bulk of the crop has been sold. The Chief Investigator in his report states that difficulty in obtaining information as experienced not only on account of the Inte start of the inquiry and the early cror, as inentioned above, but also as "all the three workers were quite new to the tract and the people” It is suggested that, in future, similar inquiries should not be commenced unless they can he undertaken by investigators who are familiar with the tract, people and conditions in the area wherc the inquiry is to be conducted. (3) To'al holdings and cotton anca The nicrage area of cotton per holding and the percentago of cotton area to total holding of the cultivators recorded in cach village are tabulated belon. In addition, the sub-dision of ·120 cultivators recorded, according to the size of their holdings is included: Name of Village. Number of cultivators recorded. Per cent. Average of cotton area of Mediumarca to cotton Small Medium Large total Large per 15 15-50 100 Total. 51-100 lolding, holding. acres. acres &crcs. acrcs. Per cent. Acres. 44 5 1 Viromgom. Hnbalpur Bhojro Vani Detroj Dumana Dhakdi 73.4 55 67.4 43.7 70 69.1 33 35 0 80 6 4 3 > 15 3 24 201 43 8 404 33 37 117 ܢܙ لم 17 19 17 w 18 1 37 72 55 33 Barde Rupal Derun Chaloda Visalpur 58.9 58.8 50 43.3 51.3 9 111 15 57 54 yan 127 100 50 100 100 40 31 S 68 91 bood . Morvi, Bavln, Jetpur Dahisara Zankara Barralla 1 3 49.5 51 23.5 49.8 323 29 141 36 41 31 42 26 20 7 18 8 7 97 78 59 57 med 1 49 .. → 307 567 146 45 1,065 Of the 1,065 cultivators recorded, 540, (50-7 per cent.,) are proprietors, 94, (8.8 per cent.,) are tenants and 431, (40.5 per cent.), are both proprietors and tenants. In the Morvi centre, all the cultivators 291 are recorded as proprietors, i.e., tenants at will of the State. (4) Indebtedness. The information recorded with regard to advances taken by cultivators is appended in Statement A attached. This statement also shows the amounts taken from each source of advance and the amounts, under each source, taken at different rates of interest. The village sowkar is by far the largest source of cultivators borrowings and, on the whole, the rates of interest charged by sowkars are reasonable and compare favourably with similar rates recorded in the Khandesh and Berar inquiries. Out of 774 cultivators recorded in the Viramgam and Bavla centres, 556 (71.8 per cent.) had taken advances, amounting in all to Rs. 1,90,156, ·121 of which Rs. 1,72,076 (90.5 per cent) was borrowed from village sowkars. In Morvi villages, no borrowings are recorded with the exception of one or two small amounts, by way of tagavi, from the State Bank (Rs. 2,025). The average borrowings per head of cultivators taking advances is Rs 342. Borrowings are highest in Hansalpur, Rupal and Derun villages (Rs 336, 337 and 348 per cultivator recorded) and lowest in Detroj and Bhojva (Rs 118 and 154 per cultivator recorded) The average borrowings per acre of cotton, for the different classes of cultivators recorded in the Viramgam and Bar la centres are summarised below Average cash advance per acre of cotton. Village. Jedium- Small Medium Large Large Rs 8 Rs. 6 12 . JHangalpur Bhojra Rs & 13 + 5 1 15 0 Vani Raa 14 12 75 15 1 22 10 10 1 8 Viramgam Detro) Dumana Dhaka 21 8 128 18 5 13 5 13 Bavls. Bavla Rupal Derun Chaloda Vasalpur 32 0 26 0 32 5 490 35 6 26 7 29 2 23 12 420 20 12 28 0 These figures, especially in the Bay la section, are considerably higher than similar drta worked out for the Khandesh and Berat tracts and there appears to be no doubt thnt tho cultivatorg in this tract are in the hands of their finnncing agents to a much grenter atent than in Khandesh or Berar. The opinion is supported by the fact tlint, although only 63 cultivntors record statements that they are under a bond to sell their produce to or through their money-lender, it is often mentioned in the course of the evidence that cultivators are inorally bound to sell their kapas or kalles through the person from wliom borrowings are made.

·122 Advance sales, either by weight or acreage, are few and this system does not appear to be adopted on a noticeable scale. Co-operative finance has not been made much use of. Only Rs 4,400 have been borrowed from co-operative credit societies in two villages. Rates of interest on loans. Out of Rs. 1,90,156 borrowed from the village sowkars, Rs. 15,865 (8.3 per cent.) was borrowed at 6 per cent., Rs. 12,575 (6.6 per cent.) at 7 per cent., Rs. 37,630 (19.8 per cent.) at 9 per cent., Rs. 65,740 (34•7 per cent.) at 12 per cent. and Rs. 58,346 (30.6 per cent.) at rates above 12 per cent. The rate of interest charged by co-operative societies was 9 per cent. per annum. . (5) Yield of kapas or kal'as (bolls). The following statement shows the average yield of kallas (bolls) or kapas per acre recorded, in each of the villages under investigation. In addition, the average yield per acre for each class of cultivator in each village recorded is included. included. Yields are in maunds of 40 lbs. both in case of kapas and kallas : Average yield per acre of different classes of cultivators (in maunds), Name of Village. Average yield per acro recorded. Smoll. Medium. Large. , DIedium- Large. Kapas Kallas. Kapas. Kallas. Kapas. Kallas. Kapas. Kallas. Kapas. Kallas 1.6 • • 3.5 Viramgam. 2.2 2.9 5 5.6 2.4 3.4 4.8 6.2 Hansalpur Bhojra Vani Detroj Dum&18 Dhakal 2.2 2.8 4.8 6.2 4.2 2. . 3.2 2.6 3.2 4.1 2. 3.9 2.2 2.3 Bayja, Bavia Rupal Derun Chaloda Visalpur 11. 10.4 3. 10.7 9.7 4.5 ++ 11.1 10.5 6.5 4.8 . 5. 4.2 2. 2.1 * .. .35 1.9 'i. 2.1 1.5 *3 2. .8 Jetpur Dahisara Zankara Barvalla Dorvi. 2.9 4. 2.9 2.6 It will be noted that the crop in Morvi centre was practically a failure and, in Viramgam centre, only very poor yields were obtained. I maund of kallas is estimated to give approximately of a maund of kapas.

·123 (6) Sales As was noted at the commencement of this summary, the record with regard to sales is most imperfect and it has not been possible to apportion any proportion of sales to different periods of the season. However the system of sales at each of the villages under investigation can be indicated from the records and some idea can be formed as to the period of time when the bulk of the crop was disposed of and as to the general level of prices obtained. The main conclusion which appears to be justified is that, unlike Khandesh and Berar, the cultivators in North Gujarat did not hold their cotton for any appreciable time after picking but disposed of it as soon as possible either locally or in some neighbouring market centre. This would appear to confirm the statement previously made that the cultivators of North Gujarat are in the hands of their financing agents to a much greater extent than their brethren in Khandesh and Nasik as, in the majority of cases, the reason for early sale is stated to be on account of the necessity of repaying interest on old debts and repayments to the sowkors. Indeed in such villages as Hansalpur, where the sorkar is also a cotton trader, the cultivators took little or no part in the disposal of their produce but merely handed it orer to their money-lender who credited their account with an amount presumably equivalent to its value. Further in North Gujarat there is so little advantage in price l'ye sale in market as compared with local sales that the impression cannot fnil to be given that merket sales, in a large majority of cases, are made at the dictation of the sowkar rather than at the free will of the grower. Many cultivators state that they theinselves know nothing about tho marketing of cotton but are in the hands of thic sowkar and have to act according to his instructions. The system of marketing both in the market centre of Bavln and in Jorvi Statc are described in the summary of market investigations and necd not be touclierl upon here. Statement B appended summarises in as brief a m37 er as possible the system of sale, the period of disposal of produce and the average prices obtained in cach of the villages under investigation. Further details may be obtained from the "noic on sales which forin part of the individual village sheets attaclied* to this summary. • Scritte ·STATEMENT A. Cotton Finance Enquiry-North Gujarat. Summary of Advances. Source of advances and rates of interest. Cultivators recorded. Co-opera. tive Sociсty. Rciativo Patadi Durbar. Sowkar. Landlord. TVithout advances. With advances. Total amount of advances in village. Average amount per culti. vator recorded. Total recorded. Over 15% 18%. 220.25% 25%. 99% 12% 181%. 12%. 6%. 7% 0% 12%. 124 Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. 7,175 150 .. 470 13,000 .. 79 38 117 . Detroj .. .. .. 20,800 118 10,300 234 14,768 336 10,300 22 22 44 Dumana .. 2,710 4,000 .. 8,076 .. .. .. 41 Hansalpur .. 3 100 1,950 Viramgam. .. 4,125 .. 6,175 154 26 40 .. Bhojva 14 300 .. 5,255 75 1,850 .. .. 37 . 7,480 202 Dhakadi 26 11 . .. .. 6,440 : .. Vani 10 5 6,440 429 15 . .. 2,4631 2,375 8,575 15,475 2,600 2,100 33,588 264 88 Bavla 39 (127 .. .. 1,050 15,370 33,710 337 13,765 1,700 1,226 79 21 100 Rupal 60 .. 000 500 .. 800 890 4,000 10,370 6,025 Barla. Chaloda .. 23,545 235 06 34 100 3,000 400) 1101 300 : 155) 400 11,785 1,230 Visulpur 25 100 17,980 179 75 . .. . Derun 50 2,100 1,300 9,125 1,100 3,770 .. 17,395 348 ·STATEMENT B (1). Viramgam Centre. REXARES Rates of Sales per maand of 40 IUS Time of dates Yemert LAC Mart of birt Tractiu pyeste was made atlery few kslet in Janaury Pult of January sales (16) arcrage No 315 3 Vearly every cultirator Is a lond Viranomarlat ales were sales in February All Falra com per mannd of kallas Fel ruiry to sell through his sowkar In most Nelly 14th March do fiolling -ks 3 15 5 Range Rs 30 Cases payment for sales was collect. uf Tor Its 48 el by sowkar and credited to dcb. tor: account. ITA**Airt (60 Hertes) "kalian Wout of salt (31) »rte mode lorelly to Sult of paire mule in early Varch (30/Vulet (Barch) (8) Rs 400 Local Majority of cultisators weto tenants Metly meants (alla) 10 cult! cultivatora) sales caui in Jaou (Varch) (-3) RA 400 Februaryl of latut durinr and gave tot Talne wil at Siram am market. ATT ANI I et ruary 1 sale in Spell 3 831rs la 3 BR 4 April 1 protuco AB "sharo to durbar milells 3S All sales weto of “kallas ** TANYA (to Foto 123 VA (16 Rarenia) 1. rullraton at lallae lorelly, I with All kallas (except Di maunas soll in all lunce rates --l's 4 an! Rs 31-consideralle amount of kapay 423 within it lalu mlat it vaner) wu wdl in Feliruary.rarlı Fitruiry 11-loral (13) Arc maund. was given to landlords by Amruta taurirt Jarrh To record of any kalo after 115e lls, 3 14 & Market (7) average tenants on "ghato" system starch 19th Ils 3 14 ) 41. molo lorally et Detroj 411 kallus Wax Roll fore multe ovance Rs 38-R: 4 February - There were no deductions Tecordet Islas Modalarmynd A fe* Parti Bulk of sales in Petruary March 1.1 anles averas o Ro 3 110 from sales in Detrol market NO (5) **1 lantan (3) Int. A few minance palms were reconds has ales la 5 10 10 J Intl altemit to holl cotton for higher mules-19 10-13 16 8 rates All we made to 12 15 local merchants at I)etro) market (117 herselo DIVINA 111s Toute Lonally at Tmi 4 (kal ''artically all kailas was all in cariy Analny AYCrazo 13 11 11 Rang Ono merchant in the villago purchases Il tem dinin 11 Tas AL, Jari Rs 3 to 42 One fint sale nearly all the kallas lle opens and ammat Na 10-12 cmsun ADYACC Ars! takes It for ginning to inamsam 13 at his own espense Cultivaton fall after 15 30 ). ie! Top #il, lalu lo larat france sala (230 maande) in Orta Trance -Rs 4 4. Ra Rs 31: Cultlystom platel preciereace for malo Wews 05 m trocallinton, tet Bult nt sales in ont fontanal Varch salma (37) - ls 379 hares in vilago ora account of trouhle of Wwt laulo Virampa. Lalm Rs O Lo Rs 02 marketing Crop Inter, no holding for higher in in AN of sfere ·STATEMENT B B (2). Bavla Centre. Time of Sile. Jinbaolirli Name of Village. Placo of Sales, 1. Intolu - $131. BATLA (127 Rccorda). all the crop noid, na kallas, locally desamunry-- cultiutors. Barla market. Only slx cultivators 146 hill-1 cultisatori. February golil kapas. oluli-.0 t'ultivatory. litlall- cultivatori. March 1 sul hul30 cultivaturs. pril-15 cultivator. 11'.1:1 : 11/1** 11crofan mr. 1, T1.mer an sinnir firtnili 11:11 3 1:1", Y? (1, 1-1"festlin mart, imali." O kafli 11, 6.9 t. 117 . RUPAL (100 Records). incultisfati iolit at lupa locally) ürly JIH 17 7 11 only. Thite She two hafiis ilma nt 1311 Tr. ni ribarat ke Gestant 101.6.1.6 her 11.10111:1. The crop was sold as kallag rithier at Bulk of sales lonk place olend of Jarch. Rit:-hallis, Rupal locally or nt, Borla market. lehruary 9 palus. 1-3-71: ikk The majorily of cullirator: (55) sold March 18 aler. at both these places. Yo dalala April 38 sales. 115.1., 1-11-31 employed. 1.1 lange 16:3-13101:4.3.1. 126 1 11 DERUN (50 Records). Kallas, were soll Incally at Derun (20) All kallas soll by:- 1:ate frit lalla intimillion Rer. dvost of cultisitors arwar to lim in Barla market (22). cultivn-25-2-20-5 cultivator.3. inli Is. 5. 3 litil or a te hind: Op ,whare anal ll 011 tors Solid at both places. 25-3-20-27 cultivators, R1-10-3. 37 tulimlla illcra; their produto nt thrir dictation. 20-1-26-10 cultivators. Rs. 4-10-0. Jayle-lis. I. Hinnt rates obtained in f'chirury. 2 cultivators solil kallas in May 1920. CHIALODĀ (100 Records). All sales made in form of karas to pct. Bulk of salcs from mil January to 093 Ring of ratee (kapus) R:1. 5-19 to 111 kapag salce. It appears that ty merchants locally at Chalula. l'ebritary. Only two cultivator 18, 7:10. crop was all anlil oft a3 carly as Only onc sale at Bavin market. mniic any salc in March. 8130s between R}, 6-7 And R9.0-13. prousille to retty mereluanta (nda- Only 11 wales over Rs.7-3. 15:13). VISALPUR (100 Records). All sales made in form of kapas. All local sales made before 15th Fc-Range of rates (kap79) R$, 0 to Rs. 7. Sinjority of anleg nt market although Grent majority 90 per cent. sold at bruary. Great bulk of sales ucrraverage Rate--13, 6-4. loral gales appear to bring just 314 Baila or Sananil markets. Only 10 mare belireen 1st and 15th February. Local sileg fetched cqual rates to mar. fool rate. Sales mado carly and local salce at Vigalpur. Dalal was Only 0 salcs made in March. lirt salcs. 0 Jarch aalcs average there is obviously no attempt to cmployed in most cascs. Rs. 6.8. hold cotton for higher prices.

·STATEMENT B (3). Morvi State Centre. of Vilar l'arc Makt. Timo of Cal. Rates of Sales REMARKS Rs.7 0-3 per found lint XTT 7 Pole} 1. Aleyna of larias! (th May 1926. IM.1" 31 Auction sale Vinotet Ate Autulon 13 entisitors retained all their lint for privato we MI DALA T. (th May 19. Pt May 1920 na 100 per maun l for luthari Darkarl" cotton, fe, cotton from NA 810 cotton On 4th y) ordinary cultivatora, tenints at will hay cotton futur Rs 813 of the Stato is that lo to ato duty of 6 annas ir ruo on kalorire “Nitayati cotton frowa ) y sinto I hayats or inamlar la taxel 15 a0428 permaunt of Int 127 LAURA ho na Alell 1924 IN 1m It Pythuatul lewat &th Stay 12 , HL 23 monta on oth Arru 1920 2:0 nauplu onth May 19,0 Ns 1331 > cr in1ul 7 0-3 Cror very poor, C! cultivator kept all their fint only small amounts for thcir own uc NITALIA 37 Arminiat Ino. Ra R-1-0 14 78U Termaun 1 He 853) to March 1970 uih May 1920. rtà Hay 1926 "2 maumls 103 per cent) WATCh 10.6 1.9 Turris 120 per cent) 4th May 178 k to m (5 x vnt} tth Vi ivas 111 lho lint was fails to one I user Valle-Iletiption of muthal of marketing cotton In Morvi to wil to fount unier " Market Investigation Surnary ·128 (0) Market Enquiry-Summary. A. GENERAL INFORMATION. The investigators have submitted general information with regard to only three market centres in North Gujarat :-Bavla, Dhanduka and Koth. In addition, the investigator in Morvi State has furnished a note on marketing cotton in Morvi. The information received is summarized below:- (1) There is no regular market in any of the places investigated and therefore there are no rules or bye-laws governing the conduct of trade, etc. No market committees have been formed and disputes and differences are settled by influential local inerchants and gin-owners. (2) Methods of sale.--In Bavla market, cultivators and petty merchants bring kapas or kallas (bolls) at night or in the early morning. Sales are effected in the morning between 7 and 12 o'clock. The purchasers go round and sample the carts and settle rates with sellers. There are four dalals or middlemen but their functions seem to be indefinite and the great majority of sales are effected without their intervention. It appears that, in cases of dispute, the services of these dalals are requisitioned for settlement. In Koth market, only petty merchants bring cotton purchased in the villages. There appears to be very little buying or selling here and there are no dalals. The petty merchants store their kapas in ginneries and have their stocks ginned and pressed on their own account. This centre can hardly come under the description of a cotton market. In Dhanduka, cultivators bring kallas for sale in the evening and sales are effected the same night. There are no dala's or middlemen and the kallas is disposed of by public auction. Cultivators are not bound to sell to the highest bidder but in practice, the sale is generally made. (3) Deductions.-In Bavla market, regular deductions are as unders:--- Kapas. Kallas. Rs. a. p. Rs, a. p. (1) Dalali .. (2) Weighing (3) Heaping (labour) 0 1 6 per maund. 0 1 0 per maund, .. 0 2 0 O per cart. . 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 4 O per cart.

·129 Kapas. . Kallas. Rs. 2. P. Rs. 2. P. 0 2 0 97 (4) Panjrapol 0 2 0 0 2 0 (5) Charities 0 2 0 (6) Water .. I 0 In addition 1 per cent. is deducted from price for ready money paid to the sellers. There appears to be a fairly general complaint about deductions during weighment, due to the fact that the last quantity left in the scales is not allowed for. This loss is calculated to mean lb. per maund of kapag and 1 lb. per maund of kallas in Bavla market. There are also several instances of deduction in rate during weighment "kadado” owing to alleged inferior quality. Details of such disputes are given under individual replies. (4) Weighments. In the markets investigated, there are weighbridges for weighing carts but kallas or bolls are commonly weighed on a talah or wooden balance by hand. Many cultivators state that this method of weighment lends itself to fraud and they urge the introduction of improved iron scales. In Bavla market, Freighmen are employed by the gin-owners but paid by the cultivator or seller at the rate of Rc. 0-2-0 per cart of 23-30 maunds of kapas or kallas. If the cart exceeds 30 maunds another Re. 0-2-0 is charged. In Dhandukn, the cultivator produces his on weighman who is paid by the buyer nt tho rato of Rc. 0-2-0 per bhar of 16 mounds. (1 maund=40 lbs.). (5) Ralrs.--. Is there are no regular markets, rates aro not posted in any of the centres investigated and records of arrivals are not kept. The latest Bombay prices are received bye telegram by leading merchants. (6) Adtaniccs.--Idvances are given by gin and press-opers to petty merchants who store kapas in gin compounds for ginning. Such advances generally annount to 73 per cent of the value of the produce and carry interest froin 6-12 per cent. according to the credit of tlio borrower, ·130 (7) Storage.--Apart from the compounds of ginning factories, the only storage accommodation is the shops or “Vakhars” of petty merchants or adatyas where kåpas or kallas is collected previous to ginning (8) Opening of kallas.-In Bavla market, the charge for opening bolls and extracting kapas is Re. 0-9-0 per 60 lbs. (1) maunds). This rate is not fixed but varies between 8 and 12 annas. (9) As will be seen from the replies received from individuals the market centres investigated are almost entirely used by petty merchants who purchase kapas or kallas in the villages and bring it in for opening, ginning, pressing and subsequent lint sales. he number of cultivators who use the market is very small. It is to be regretted that the investigators were not able to conduct inquiries in a larger number of sale centres as the evidence recorded is insufficient to enable a real appreciation of cultivators' marketing difficulties to be formed. B. COTTON MARKETING IN MORVI STATE. (10) The marketing of all the kapas or kallas grown in the State is conducted by auction, under State control, at Madvi in Morvi.proper. Local dealings in cotton are not permitted and each village has a committee, consisting of the revenue patel and four other leading cultivators, who prepare “ khardas” or lists showing the quantity of lint for sale by each individual grower in the village. These lists are sold by auction at Madvi, where auction sales are held twice a week-on Tuesdays and Fridays---during the season before the State authorities, the Bank Manager and the Customs Officer. As there are only three large buying firms in Morvi, all of whom are well acquainted with the quality of lint from each village in the State, sales are made from the "khardas” only and the lint itself is not brought to the press until later when the purchaser requires it. The State levies a duty of 5 annas in the rupee which is paid by the purchaser. This duty is taken into account during the auction and the prices offered are reduced accordingly. The cultivators therefore suffer the burden of the monetary loss amounting to nearly one-third of the value of their crop. The purchase money is received by the village committee about 15 days after the sale of the “khardă” and is distributed by them to the cultivators in proportion to the amount of lint.entered in the “khar- ·131 la" by each individual At times, especially in bad years, when he growers require money to meet assessment charges, etc, the klardas are mortgaged to the State Bank or to a purchasing arm The lint is weighed out to the agent of the buyer in tho presence of the village committee at the cultivators' houses and is Dacked into gunny bags, each containing 23 maunds of lint The ultivators are obliged to deliver the lint at their own expense to he buyer at the State Press in Morvi usually during the months { April to Junc The furthest villages are 36 miles from Morvi and the nearest 5 miles Pressing charges, amounting to Rs 12 or each lint bale of 380 lbs, are borne by the purchasers This ystem has come into force during the past 16 years and is now ompulsory The chief complaint of the cultivator is the heavy Auty, payable to the State, which is almost entirely borne by the growers C. INDIVIDUAL REPLIES. (11) Only one marhet centre, Bavla, was selected for the purpose of recording replies from individuals bringing cotton to Marhet The following statement gives the dates of inquiry, the number of ndividuals recorded, growers and petty merchants and the total mount of hapas or hallas brought by those recorded each day of nquiry Individuris bringing cotton recorded Amount brought Both Date of Inquiry Petty Stower hallas Kapas i Groner Merchant and in maunda in matnds petty (40163 ) (40 lbs) merchant 3rd March 1926 9th March 1926 13th March 1926 19th March 1920 27th Winch 1926 Path March 1926 10th April 1926 Ilth April 1926 Ini Apni 1926 Pith April 1926 43 37 19 escu 131 305 193 1,129 1 209 1,226 856 COL3 320 G9G 315 815 178 19 91 13 32 3 119 S * 406 ·132 The above statement shows the large percentage of petty traders, i.e., who had purchased the cotton they were bringing to market (88.6 per cent.) as compared with actual cultivators who had grown it (9.1 per cent.). The small percentage of kallas, 2.e., bolls (16.2 per cent.) as compared with kapas (83.8 per cent.) is also noticeable. (12) Rates received.--The actual rates received by the sellers for their produce were recorded in each case. These rates were the ones accepted by the seller at the time of sale and are exclusive of subsequent deductions which are dealt with at a later stage of this summary. The highest, lowest and average rates recorded, both for kapas and kallas sales on the days of the inquiry are tabulated below: Recorded Rates per maund of 40 lbs. Date of Inquiry. INumber of records, Kapas. Kollas. High. Low. Average. High. Low, Average. Rs. a. p. Rs. 1. p.Rs, a, p.Rs. 2. p. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. 3rd March 1926 8th March 1926 45 46 715 3 0 S 0 7 6 5 S 5 0 8 0 7 15 0 46 13th March 1926 19th Dlarch 1920 8 4 0 0 9 0 711 7 13 31 6 13 31 7 46 0 1 14 043 3 0 +- 0 27th March 1920 28tlı Maroh 1920 28 18 7 5 0 0 8 0 0 1 0 11 6 10 6 4 11 76 0 4 0 0 0 12 3470 . 10 10th April 1926 11th April 1926 33 13 0 14 9 6 0 6 4 S 0 0 5 10 11 30 6 6 10 formed - 23rd April 1926 24th April 1026 38 7 9 31 0 8 0 1 0 3 1 3 0 14 0 0 0 6 O The general reduction in rates, as the season advances, whicle was brought out in the village investigntion, is verified by the above records. The rate at Bavla market for opening kallas and extracting kapas is approximately annas 9 per 60 lbs. (1! muunds) of kallas. Taking this charge into consideration, the cultivator, selling kapas, in preference to kallas, gains 1-2 annns por mund on the above-quoted rates.

·133 Rs. 2. P. Rs. 8. P. 0 1 0 > 0 0 1 3) 0 2 4 (13) Deductions.--The general recognised market deductions at Bavla market are as under: Kapas. Kallas. (1) Brokerage 6 per maund o 1 Oper maund. (2) Charity O per cart. 2 G per cart. (3) Panjrapol 20 2 3 (4) Water .. 0 0 1 0 (5) Labour heaping, etc... 020 0 (6) Weighing 0 0 These figures are approximate and vary slightly trith the actual weight of the cart. In addition, discount of 1 per cent. is taken if cash payment is made. In addition to these recognised deductions, there are also deductions in weight and in money taken from the cultivators. Records have been taken of the weight of kapas or kallas which the individual said he had brought to market and of the weight which was finally accepted by the purchaser. These records are tabulated herewith. STATEMENT OF WEIGHT REDUCTIONS OF KAPAS AND KALLAS, WIEN WEIGUED, IN BAVLA MARKET AS COMPARED WITH WEIGIMEXT AT VILLAGE. urlar of Indisktuals Trrordal, Records of tractions in weight fa Bstia Starkrt. HarlAver Satter of records and Art Xumtrt of ttronte mum.wr. of toelona. mum. As of retuctions Date, frotal. 13h Bedard Wristats. In met. Over 10-20 Colet 90 TL. 10 ken. Art. Ing. Orer 20 11. 10-.0 talet *71. 10 men. Kails, 1: 111.4 19. 12.6 n tarth 1924 Mth March 1 19th March 1924 16 March 10,0 7 March 128 21 March 10.00 10h Tivi 11th Anu 1975 in Afv11 10: 24th gel92 320 10 ! Itt 11 37 ·134 Thus, out of a total of 320 individuals recorded, 308 (96*2 per cent.) stated that the weight' recorded in Bavla market and accepted by the purchaser was less than the actual weight they had brouglit to market. Of these 308, 51 (16.2 per cent.) lost over 20 seers, 131 (42.8 per cent.) over 10 seers but under 20, and 126 (41 per cent.) under 10 seers. In view of this, there would appear to be justification for the complaints recorded in the village investigation regarding fraudulent and faulty weighing at the market centres. In Bavla market, deductions were also made, both in kind and in cash, during and after weighment. These deductions “kadado” were the result of disputes with regard to the quality of the produce. Records of such deductions have been kept in the case of individuals recorded and are given below :- On 3rd March 1926 :-Reductions of this nature were :- Re. a. p. 0 2 0 (45 records). 0 6 9 per maund-2 cases. 06 0 per maund-1 case. 3 per maund-2 cases. 2 0 per maund. + 64 lbs. kapas—1 case. 0 2 0 per maund-1 case. 0 1 6 per maund-1 case. 0 1 0 per maund. + 4 lbs. kapas-1 case. 0 1 0 per maund—4 cases. 8 lbs. kapas-1 case. 4 lbs. kapas-1 case. On 8th March 1926:-13 cases of reduction ranging from Re. 0-1-3 (46 records.) to 0-6-0 per maund. On 13th March 1926 :-13 cases of reduction ranging from (46 records.) Re. 0-1-3 to 0-4-3 per maund. On 19th March 1926:-8 cases of reduction Re. 0-1-9 to 0-8-0 (46 records). per maund also 6, 4 and 12 lbs. kapas. 1 t ·135 On 27th March 1926:43 cases of reduction Re. 0-1-6, 0-2-6 (28 records). per maund and 7 lbs. kapas. On 28th March 1926:--No cases. (18 records). On 10th April 1926 :-6 cases of reduction Re. 0-1-0 to 0-3-3 (33 records). On 11th April 1926 :-) case of reduction Re. 0-1-3 per maund. (13 records). On 23rd April 1926 -10 cases of reduction Re. 0-1-0 to 0-3-3. (38 records). On 24th April 1926:42 cases of reduction Re. 0-4-0 and 0-1-0 per maund. per maund, per maund. These deductions, during or after weighment, are neither so frequent nor so heavy as in Khandesh or Berar and do not form the subject of general complaint on the part of the sellers. It is unfortunate that the investigators were not able to obtain similar records from other market centres in North Gujarat so as to give a wider idea of the marketing system and its difficulties in the tract under inquiry. (14) Advances. There is no record of any individual having taken an advance on hapas or hallas brought to marhet.

·APPENDIX VI. Oldham Master Cotton Spinners' Association, Ltd. Spinning Tests of Indian Collon, March, 1926. Estimnte Value compareil with price of current Month Future, Universal Standaril. Growth. Per cent Nominal counts, Firm making Tost. Loss up Actual Counts at Spindlo Point. per inch. Loa Strength actual Turns Test in Ihy. to Card Sliver. Staplo. Ciracle and Working. Colour. Nett Valuc. American Bowcds 8.3 TV eft 25 24 25 hard. Twist 30 25.20 21.31 20.01 30.77 51.0 52.5 57.0 11.5 17.5 10.25 22 23 10 01 10 on 20 on In 011 136 Gadag No. 1 .. Woit 25 16.3751 2.1 25 liard Twist 30 23.82 21.89 20.00 30.81 53. 51.3 58.0 11.8 17.0 10.25 10 on CU VIT 0 on pass No. 1. American Boweds 8.51 Weft 28 20 25 30 5.1 57 > 28.37 20.00 25.23 30.08 01 20 23 17.5 19 10 011 10 011 20 Ort 100 on 13.5 285 F (Punjab-American.) Woft 28 26 25 30 29.0L 26.32 21.73 30.08 60.3 7.1 72 22 23 17.3 19 SO on 30 off 300 off 19 250 off American Texas 9.56 { Twice Twist 30 24 28.37 22.68 57.75 70.75 No. 2 20.3 17.18 SO ON 10 on jon 135 on 1027 ALF (Surat) 12.37 { Twist 39 31.37 24.31 41.75 06.75 20.3 17.18 10 01 30 off 23 on 35 on ·ArrCYDLA VICONHO Oldham Master Cotton Spinners' Association, Ltd Spinning Tests of Indian Collon, March, 1920-contd. Estimated aluo compared with Price of current Month Futuros, Universal Standard. Crowth l'er cert Tominal counts making TOR lca Strength Ictual Turns Test in lbs. 1 cr inch Inss up Actual Counts *t Spradlo I oil. to Cani Siser Staplo Grado and Horking Colour Mett 1 alue 129 5 Triat 12} 18 10 195f11er 11 12 12 88 10 03 Vi marec 1J0 95 70 75 13 35 15 10 S 13 5 35 01 PIS8 p138 35 on 18 01 [Twist 12 Int Test 10 37 31.3 et 17 Twist 12 24 Irati 112 oft 13 13 74 17 77 12 39 18 35 12 34 10 25 12 80 137 132 5 100 12 130 09 37 1.46 1J0 12 137 23 103 5 13 8 15 11 65 13 30 13 85 15 15 11 25 19 50 25 on 175 oll I 199 150 off . 16 80 133 12 31 111 018 120 5 12 65 11 B7 11 16 17 ) 88 i 8) 42 pass. GO od ps. го оff 13 Wild 13 76 11 05 11 1 10 17 00 73 975 of 73 20 12W Welt pass p135 20 on 19 17 17 O .2% 193 MI 10 713 130 pass 10 on 25 on 1 OR TD ont 300 od ID 1 ·TESTS ON INDIAN GROWN COTTON, , March 1926. SPINNERS' COXIF.XTS, No. 1 FIRN, OX TUT: RAN COTTOX. On Behaviour in Working. On the Yarns Proluccd. Seed and Leal. Colour. Staple (Ins.) Ciinning Generally. Gadag No. 1 11/16 Shy of Mid. An. Crcam. Good, If a whitcr strain coulil be cul. Worked well, tivated and leaf and seed kept out in greater degree, this cotton would make an excellent substitute for S.J., Boweds. Will spin counts up to 30's. Strength slighty better than Bowels, Colour and Cleanliness inferior to Jild. Boweds. Resultant yarns contained more nep3 and bits of seeil, and was not level as American with which it was compared. SO 138 285F (Punjab-Am.) (1 3/10 About cqual to Light Mid. Am. Creain, Good but too many Too full of minute pieces of seed Worked well. stain spots. with hairs attachica which ruin the cvenness and appearance of the yarn. The yarn from this cotton is very dis. appointing. Yep is much more prevalent than would appear likely, looking at the cotton in the bale. The fault is very pronounced on web of card. Tho side shaft and barrow wheels on card were altered so that cffcct could be noted, but no improvce ment resulteri. Three cards wero tried but the result was the samc in cach casc. No. 2 FIRA. 1027 ALF(Surat)... 11/10 Leafy. Creamy. Unsatisfactory. The leaf seems to hang in patches, The behaviour during Inything over 30's will, in our opinion, Leafy in patches, but with a good clcaning plant) carding and spin- begin to sliow tlic Indian cotton 2" in diamcter. can be separated with success. ning was very gool, 1027 ALF to disadvantage. The but was considerably strength will be seen to be about soiter than the) 11 lbs. below the test from American Texas cotton spun! cotton of Texas growth. Growths of at the same time. cotton other than American, do not generally command the same price when the staple and grade are considered equal. RA ·TESTS ON INDIAN GROWN COTTON. March 1920. HUETA (OYYY TO S FIRY OX TRE RAW (OTTOT 24111 cine Culatur Glading Denerally On Taylous is Worklag On the Vatns Produced Nidy charsh tull with catcaleat Cream Amm Rally kinhnd food Diameter of Abro Ane attrall vorki cry wc? In Tils cotton would spln 139 Wut or cotton 100 1914t very low sture of Ml re caruing and uplol 30/32 Twist more stable for Twl* Orta and found ry strong alag but w}}} not tronger than American much drok. pins tight Irsatly more I al carrien con And compact Would estimate its market sal 10 st V per 10 nuet yarn male from American moich depending on The prXCAM It was in for mittany Valeratuld Diameter of Alte moderatr irustore! Vstural twist oferate Wat te of Alre alle V*** Works Tery w 1 w old Arin & goou 32 31 Wort and name an) 0.9 Twit operal of machinery is merican trength equal to VW Ames (blour 1 Teamles with itgftly more traf in te samo lle moul! say that yer would be worth u jer ih onder the American quali iy mox depending on the pHU POSO it was used for ·TESTS ON INDIAN GROWN COTTON. . March 1926. SPINNERS' COMMENTS. NO. 4 Fmx. ON THIR RAY COTTON. ► Staple (Ins.) Scod and Lcaf. Colour. On Bchaviour in Working. Ginning. Gencrally. On the Yarns Produced. Cambodia No. 1 Full 1 Bcautifully clean, Beauti- Very good indccd. almost free! ful from Icat and creamy seed. white. 140 Very fine silky texture, and good Good spinning cotton. Colour rather crcamy, but bright and spinning cotton up to 30's Equal to Universal nicc lustrc. counts. Mid. Boweds Amer. Thrcad moderately level and free from Nice staplc, good creamy white, in spinning, but not nop, fairly clean. bright and clean, not too lossy in colour; required Strength not quite so good as Amcr. in spinning processcs. Icss twist than Dhar. Boircds. Staplo very regular. A good or Universal. markctable yarn up to 30's counts. substituto for Amer. Boweds Bild, Bomers. cxccpt a littic too crcamy. Dharwar No.1 1 Much broken leaf Dull Not satisfactory, too Rather fine silky texture; spios Spios fairly well but Dull brown colour. Thread' rather and sccd, also heavy much broken leaf, inirly well up to 24's counts. makes far too much unicvel in 24's counts. much sand, creamy seed and sand. Nico staple. Its bad colour, loss in sand and leat, Moderately clean, lacking lustro and colour broken leaf sced and sand arc This cotton requires frec from nep. which is very objectionable, making the moro twist than Strength not quito go good as Amér. objcccotton very lossy in spinning Cambodia or Uni Boweds. tionable. procc89, versal Bhd. Boweds A marketablo yarn up to 2t's counts. Staple very regular, but not åt to American. substituto American Bovede owing to tho above faults, ·SPINNING TESTS OF INDIAN COTTONS. Jlay 1920, T'er cent. Estimated Value compared with price ol current month Tutores, Universal Standard. mak Jant un Crowth, to Cart Aliser Yominal Counts Actual ILA counts Strength actual at Test in Turns Spindlc Point Trat Ibs. per inch Staple Grade and colour Working Nett value 30 CM metkan TCIAS l'cr cent 8 Twist Weft 37 39 8 A. .. Twait Wert 11 00 39 76 49 25 49 25 15 00 14 09 12.70 20 67 21 45 23 17 219 22 05 30 35 4 38 37 45 40 392 130 on Pass 75 oil 3 P Punjab American D 249 1 l'unjab (merican 65 on 11 75 141 1 American 1 316 10 15 Ring Turist C ID C6 50 63 23 3 23 3 23 3 19 SI Punja) Imerera 10 00 friserican Gmagia P Punjab Imerican Welt Il eſt 18 D) 13 5 37} 15 487 69 18 29 0 20 TO 28 30 33 24 27 01 28 32 32 34 27 07 Welt 23 l'unjab Imerican 19 6 W eft 19 17 581 Txist Twist 125 Low Will Good Fair colour WOOL 1 T.lt T*136 22 B1 71 10 317 815 40 39 ) 28,250 CU 20 25 01 07 3 30 31 1 31 67.0 20 21 09 5 17 53 20 80 1' Good 20$ 194 10 4 19 3 Dood 10 19 4 Maling Good 30 on .. left Twist ·TESTS ON INDIAN GROWN COTTON. Spinners' Comments. ON THE RAW COTTON. Staple (Ins). On Behaviour in Working. Seed and Leaf, Colour. On the Yarns Produced. Ginning. Generally. X ilne. A. FIRM. 285. F (Punjab Ame- Full 1 1-8" Large amount Dull Cream.. Could be im-Silky texture, ibre very Works very well in carding Would spin 46' to 48's weft or 38's rican). to 1 3-10". proved. strong. and spinning, requires to 40's twist; more suitable for much less twist than Ame twist yarns. Thrcad fairly level, rican Texas. a little nep showing in our opinion through faulty ginning. B. FIRM. 289 F (Punjab Ame-1 5-16" dia.Too much le a f Dull Cream Twist good but tcsts only rican.) and seed. We think would spin 54's to 70's taken up to Intermediate Twist yarn under proper condibobbin. tions and with better ginning. C. FIRM, 285 T. .. 1 1-8" All practically alike but Difficulty with 285F_Fibres The American is casily the cleanest American falling away, apparently and most even yarn. The two less natural twist. has less Indian cottons are similar, both lustre. are uneven, very neppy indeed 289 F (Punjab Amc-1 1-8" with plenty of leaf still showing. rican.) No trouble. .... 142 285 F (Punjab Amc-1 3-16" rican). D. FIRS. .. Equal to Mid. Light Cream Good American. Contains a large amount of Worked well stain. 289 F (Punjab Amc-1 3-16" rican). ..Equal to Mid. Light Cream Good American. Very much finer counts can be spun than here reported upon but excessive nop seriously prejudices the value of this cotton. Do. Rather dirtier than 285.F Good but not so many stains. E, FIRM. 285 F (Punjab American), 280 F. **: Comparcs very favourably with American Boweds for Weft yarns being bright and of good colour and staple. Quito up to staple Boweds, suitable for 40's weft. More suitable for Twist yarns, bcing longer in staplo than Bowcds and equal in strength to Good 1 1-8" Texas. Suitable up to 36's Twist.

·143 APPENDIX VII. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR, INSTITUTE OF PLANT INDUSTRY. INDORE, FOR THE YEAR LADED JUNE 30TH, 1926 I. INTRODUCTION The second meeting of the Governing Body took place at Indore on October 9th, 1925, when the budget for 1926-27 was passed and proposals for the expenditure of the balance of the capital grant of Rs 2,00,000, namely Rs 20,851 were discussed To this balance of Rs 20,851 saving from the ordinary budget for 1925 26, namely Rs 29,888 were added making a total sum of Rs 50,739 available for capital expenditure The general lines on which tho Temainder of the capital should be expended were settled at the mecting and the Director was instructed to prepare detailed plans and estimates which were afterwards circulated and approved. Orders were at once placed and most of the work has been completed Before the end of the rains of 1920 it is hoped to prepare thc final statements of capital expenditure and to close this account II. ERECTION OF BUILDINGS AND LAYING OUT THE LAND The whole of the Institute and farm buildings including one block of workmen's quarters and two chaukidnrs' houses have been completed and fitted up The gin house will be handed over in a few days The electrification scheme of the Institute and of the various cotton gins has been completed with the exception of connecting on to the motors which are shortly expected The scheme entailed thic crection of 3,580 feet of mains Ilalf the cost of the mains used in common was contributed by the Daly College Tuo large puccr wells, cach over 20 ſect in diameter, wcro completed during the year Both have behaved well in an erceed. ingly dry season when many of the local wells ceased to gne unter carli in the hot weather These and onc of the old wells are being prosed with Boulton Elevators ilmnen by portable 5 JIP oil engine and will prove of great use in irrigat on work on cotton In nddition to these wells there are three more old gucci wella in the nrca wluich can be deepened, improsed and brought into use in future jcars as ſunds and timc pcrinit ·144 A bullock gear which drives the threshing machine, corn grinder and chaff cutter has been crected and is now in use. The additions and alterations to the old Thagi jail have been completed at a cost of Rs. 3,000. Four large married quarters, six quarters for bachelors and four out-houses for menials have been provided which are now being occupied by members of the staff and by the research students. The jail compound has also been handed over to the Institute free of rent. This is now being fenced and will provide a useful grazing area for the work cattle. A second grass paddock has been handed over to the Institute for grazing purposes free of cost. These two areas have already proved of great use in providing fodder for the work cattle. The plan of the final lay-out of the area was completed during the rains of 1925 and the position of the plots, roads and paths marked by permanent stone pillars. This work was carried out by Mr. K. R. Joshi, Assistant in charge of Field Experiments and of the Seed Farm, under the supervision of Rai Sahib J.N. Bose of the Railway Survey and his staff. One of the members of the Railway Survey staff (Mr. Ball) prepared the final plan which has been of the greatest use. A beginning was at once made with the actual lay-out and at the time of writing (June 30 1926) this is rapidly approaching completion. The work has involved the construction of 6,965 feet of metalled roads, 1,260 feet of metalled paths, four small bridges, four culverts, 4,530 feet of small drainage canals, 34,395 feet of surface drains, 13,149 feet of earth roads and the erection of 25,650 feet of fencing. About 4,500 feet of fencing, about half a mile of earth roads and two short pieces of metalled road remain which will be taken on hand this rains as soon as the sowing of the kharif crops has been completed. III. COTTON INVESTIGATIONS. A survey of the work on Indian cotton published during the last twenty years reveals the important fact that with the exception of the pioneering work of Sampson and Clouston (which appeared many years ago) and the recent work of Roberts at Khanewal and of the Bombay Agricultural Department at Surat very little attention has been paid to the agricultural aspects of this Almost crop. without exception, recent investigations have been confined to the ·145 discovery of better cottons, to seed distribution and to various cotton pests. A short experience of cotton growing on the black soils has convinced me that there is a large and profitable field of investigation in the actual growing of cotton on these soils in addition to the investigations on botany, physiology and genetics of this crop which form the main work of the Institute. Attention has therefore been paid to the growing of cotton and actual results are beginning to appear. In this way it will be possible for the Institute to pay dividends in the early years of its existence while the researches on the improvement of the plant are being developed. The improvement of cotton growing. The eradication of kans and the deep cultivation of black soils. One of the chief obstacles to cotton growing in Central India, Bundelkhand and parts of the Central Provinces is a perennial deep rooted grass known as kans (Saccharum spontaneum). At a conservativo estimate the reduction in the yield of cotton caused by this veed is at least a third of the crop. The implements at the disposal of the cultivator only serve to keep kans in check, they do not eradicate it. Attempts are now being made in various parts of India to bring this weed under control by means of tractors but the method is expensive and not very suitable for the ordinary villager. As more than half the area of the land leased to the Institute Tas infected with kans and quite unfit for experimental work, the cradication of this pest was at once taken up. The funds available were insufficient to consider cither the purchase of a tractor or the local method of digging out the feed by hand. Some cheaper method had to be devised. The first attempts were made with lcnry soilinverting plouglis :-Ransomcs' steel bar plough and the C.T. plough were tried coch drawn by two pairs of oxen. The results were unsatisfactory and the amount of work done each day was small. The failure of these ploughs was partly due to the great force needed to turn a decp furrow and partly to the fact that when two separate pairs of oxen are yoked to the same plough there is a good deal of non-co-operation and the animals rarcly pull togetlicr. A little consideration of the problem soon led to the conclusion that ſurrowinversion---s0 essential in thic damp soils of the Occident for killing veeds by cutting oli tlie light-is quite unnecessary in India wlicre the čun does the same work for nothing once the weeds are uprootedi.

·146 Soil inversion besides requiring a large amount of draught interferes with levels and is particularly harmful on black soils by producing large clods which often prevent the work cattle from walking on the cultivated surface. These difficulties were overcome by the use of an adjustable bakhar capable of working to a depth of 8 to 9 inches drawn by two pairs of oxen working abreast. This bakhar was obtained by dismantling and slightly altering the P. &0. 10 inch ridging plough manufactured by the International Harvester Company and on sale in India at forty rupees each. The broad share of this plough acts as a very efficient bakhar blade. The draught is supplied by four oxen walking abreast provided with a long yoke, nire feet four inches long by one foot seven inches deep fitted with iron pins which prevent the oxen getting off the yoke when turning. Under this system non-co-operation disappears, the animals work together and exert their maximum power. The arrangement will be clear on referring to the photograph appended* to this report. This adjustable bakhar is proving very effective in kans eradication and this adverse factor is rapidly being eliminated. The most effective periods for dealing with this weed appear to be during the time of active growth in the rains or at the beginning of the cold weather. The adjustable bakhar drawn by four bullocks walking abreast is all that is required for the occasional deep cultivation of black cotton soils. More expensive machinery does not appear to be necessary, and in future any well-to-do cultivator can obtain all the benefits of a tractor, without any of the disadvantages of this costly and uncertain machine, for the trifling sum of forty rupees. The complete ridging plough will also be useful in growing cotton flat beds in tracts where the provision of a little surface drainage is found to increase the yield. Soil colloids and the growth of the cotton plant. Observation of the cotton crop on the black soils suggests that the formation of soil colloids during the rains is the principal factor which retards growth and limits the yield. This is particularly the case in years of heavy rainfall when growth is very slow, the plants are stunted, the yield is low and the bolls open late. At present the grower is at the mercy of the rainfall and the yield is a * Not printed, on ·147 mat:er of chance. What is wanted is to furnish the cultivator with some weapon by means of which the position can be partly or entirely reversed. Perhaps the easiest way of dealing with this problem is to apply a small dressing of a suitable oil cake in a finely divided condition which will tend to put the colloids out of action and also supply nitrogen in a readily available condition. Karanj cakc, a local oil-cake obtained from the seeds of a leguminous tree (Pongamia glabra) applied at the rate of five maunds per acre has greatly improved the vegetative growth and increased the yield of cotton by more than 25 per cent. The effect on the crop of small dress ings is much greater than would be expected from the chemical composition. Crushing in an ordinary mortar mill reduces this cake to the requisite fine state of division. Plantations of this treo have been started at Indore so as to determine the yield of seed per acre and the increased cotton crop which can be obtained. The seed contains about one-third of its weight of oil which is being examined by Dr. Simonsen at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, with the object of stimulating the trade in this product. It is likely to bo suitable for lubrication and for the manufacturo of soap. There seems little doubt that a small plantation of this trec will be sufficient to provide manure for a comparatively largo arca of cotton and that it will pay the cotton grower to devote attention to this valuable species. In many parts of the black soil tracts there is ample land for the purpose. The preparation of organic matter for the collon crop. One of the dircctions in which the yield of cotton can be markcdly incrensed is to supply the soil with fermented organic matter in a finely divided condition. These matters have alrcady been worked out cmpirically in China and Japan and are described in King's Farmers of Forty Centurics. All that is necded is to apply this work to Indian conditions and to make use of all existing Tast materials. Almost any form of organic matter is suitable for the purpose. All that is needed is to mix the material with carth, aslics (when available), a little cowdung (to start thic fermentation in the right direction) and wnter. The final result is a finely divided manurinl carth rich in nitrogen and organic matter. Fresh san henip lins yielded a promising proluct containing 0-07 per cent, of nitrogen which is not being applied to cotton. Water ·148 weed from the local river gave similar results, the compost in this case containing about 0.5 per cent. of nitrogen. The experiments with cotton stalks are not yet complete. All the weeds and refuse . organic matter produced on the Experiment Station are now as a matter of routine converted into valuable manure and in due course find their way to the cotton fields. There is at present a serious waste of manure going on in India due to the fact that raw unfermented materials are applied to the soil. This practice is incorrect. The soil cannot prepare food materials and grow a crop at the same time. To attempt to make the soil do so is to overwork the land. The Chinese discovered the secret of avoiding this common mistake. They never overwork their fields and confine their activities of the soil to its proper function, namely; that of growing a crop. The preparation of food materials for the plant is always done outside the field. The successful introduction of this principle into Indian Agriculture would lead to a great increase in the production of cotton. As results accumulate on this subject at Indore, they will be published. The improvement of the cotton plant. During the season of 1925 about 80 acres were sotn with Malvi cotton obtained from Kannod in the Nimawar District of the Indore State. Although the total rainfall was only 15 inches the yield was satisfactory and there seems no doubt that this mixture will well repay detailed study. The various constituents have been isolated and will this year be grown from single plants. The increase in the length of fibre above the mean of the mixture which can be obtained by selection methods is not likely to be considerable. The possibilities in improvement of the yield per acre and in the fineness of the fibre, however, are considerable. Besides the work on Malvi a beginning has been made in the collection of unit species of the indigenous Indian cottons a number of which have been sent in by the Agricultural Department. At the present time the area under small cultures in connection with This the plant breeding and selection work is nearly six acres. includes 1,252 single plant cultures. Among these are a number of bani cultures, a variety which grows Tell at Indore and which is now being studied. In 1927 and succeeding years the culture work will be divided into two groups (1) rains cottons and (2) cottons suitable for growth ·149 promise well under well irrigation In this way the range of types available for study will be greatly increased and it will be possible to include American varieties IV RESEARCH STUDENTS At the present time three Research Students (Messrs Bapubhai Desai, Idnani and Talesara) appointed by the Central Cotton Committee are working in the Institute Tro of these students hold ordinary research scholarships while Mr Bapubhai Desu has just been appointed to a Senior Scholarship Messrs Idnanı and Talesara worhed in the Institute as volunteers without pay up to June of this year and I am glad to report that they are making good progress and V PUBLICATIONS In the Presidential Address to the Indian Science Congress which met at Bombay in January 1926 an attempt was made to define the nature of the problems which await solution by the Agricultural Department and to deal with the draw backs of specialisation in research woh The examples selected to ilustrato the main themo of the piper were canal irrigation and discase in plants, two questions which are intimately connected with the rescarch work undertal en by the Indian Central Cotton Commit- Some suggestions were made as to the best method of approaching present day problems, a matter which bears on the selec tion of scientific vorhers for cotton investigations in India and on the training of research students Copics o' this paper are appended to this report Ino short notes were published in the Agricultural Journal of Is dia on the composting of orginic matter and on the origin of all nlı land black souls was rend at the Ir ul included in the bulletin recc Committec This paper is being reprinted in tlic Agricultural Journal of ladio | HOWARD, Dircc'or, 11•lue of Plan' Industry, Indore, and.igricultural Ideiset 10 Stales in Cen'ral India tee short paper ·150 Supplement to the Annual Report for the year ended June 30th, 1926. In submitting the last annual report it was mentioned at the meeting of the Central Cotton Committec in July 1926 that a supplementary report would be desirable on one or two points. This was due to the fact that insufficient time had elapsed between the completion of the experiments and the writing of the report. I am glad to report that no qualifications are necessary and that the results in question namely, those on the eradication of kans and on the new method of green manuring for cotton are even more successful than I had hoped. There is no doubt that the new four bullock yoke and the deep subsoiler, which have been devised at the Indore Research Institute, constitute a notable advance in Indian Agriculture which will soon be taken up all over the country. The complete outfit was shown at work at the recent Agricultural Exhibition at Poona and attracted much farourable notice. A paper on the subject was also read before the Agricultural Section of the Indian Science Congress at Lahore. So far orders for 22 complete outfits have been received. In addition, orders have come in for 11 yokes. A note on this subject with an illustrations of the yoke and new plough is appended. As regards the new method of green manuring with san which has been worked out at Indore, the cotton on the experimental plots has not yet been completely picked. The weight of the crop so far gathered, however, leaves no doubt as to the great value of the method. I hope to have all this in print shortly and to append a paper with full details to the annual report for the year ended June 30th, 1927. A. HOWARD, Director, Institute of Plant Industry, INDORE. * Not printed.

·151 THE ERADICATION OF KANS (Saccharum spontaneum L.). By ALBERT HOWARD, C.I.E., M.A., Director, Institute of Plant Industry, Indore, and Agricultural Adviser to States in Central India. One of the chief obstacles to the growth of cotton and other crops in Central India, Bundelkhand and parts of the Central Provinces is a perennial deep-rooted grass known as kans (Saccharum spontaneum L.). At a conservative estimate the reduction in the yield of cotton caused by this weed is at least a third of the crop. The implements at the disposal of the cultivator only serve to keep kans in check, they do not eradicate it. Attempts are now being made in some parts of India to bring this pest under control by means of tractors but the method is expensive and not very suitablo for the ordinary villager. As more than half the three hundred acres Icased to the Institute of Plant Industry were infested with kans and quite unfit for experimental work, the eradication of this reed was at once taken up. The funds available were insufficient either to consider the purchase of a tractor or to adopt the local method of digging out the weed by hand which costs about cighty rupees an acrc. Some cheaper method therefore had to be devised. The first attempts were made with heavy soil-inverting ploughs Ransomes' steel bar plough and the C. T. plough werctried, cach drawn by two pairs of oxen in the usual manner. The results there unsatisfactory and the amount of work done cach day was small . The failure of these ploughs was partly due to the great force needed to turn & deep furrow and partly to the fact that when two separto pairs of oxen are yoked to the same plough there is a good deal of non-co-operation and the animals only occasionally pull together. A little consideration of the problem soon led to the conclusion that furrow-inversion--s0 essential in the damp soils of the Occident for killing weeds by cutting off the light-is quite unnecessary -11:-puan ihn weeds in India where the sun docs the same large are loosened or uprooted. Soil-inve armful amount of draught interferes with le... on black soils after the rains by producing large clols which prevent the work cattle from talking on the cultivated surface.

·152 These difficulties were overcome by the use of an adjustable bakhar capable of working to a depth of 8 to 9 inches drawn by two pairs of oxen walking abreast. This bakhar was obtained by dismantling and slightly altering the P. &0. 10-inch ridging plough manufactured by the International Harvester Company and on sale in India at forty rupees. The broad share of this plough when the wings and sole are removed acts as a very efficient and self-cleaning balchar blade and uproots the dense mass of kans Thizomes which run mostly in the upper eight inches of soil. The depth of working is adjusted by the front wheel. The yoke is attached to the sub-soiler by a strong chain of suitable length. The draught is supplied by four oxen walking abreast provided with a long yoke, nine feet four inches long by one foot seven inches deep fitted with iron pins which prevent the oxen getting off the yoke when turning. Under this system non-co-operation disappears, the animals work together and exert their maximum power. One of these sub-soilers will plough an acre of land a day at Indore at a cost of somewhat below five rupees. This adjustable bakhar is proving very effective in kans eradication at 'Indore and this adverse factor is rapidly being eliminated. Plots infested with kans in September 1925 were fit for cotton cultures by June 1926. The most effective periods for dealing with this pest appear to be during the time of active growth in the rains or at the beginning of the cold weather but this and many other matters relating to this weed need further investigation. The adjustable bakhar drawn by four bullocks walking abreast is all that is required for the occasional deep cultivation of black cotton and other Indian soils. More expensive machinery does not appear to be necessary and in future any well-to-do cultivator can obtain, for the trifling sum of forty rupees, all the benefits of a tractor or steam plough without any of the disadvantages of these costly and uncertain machines. The deep cultivation involved in the eradication of kans produces other useful results. The land becomes remarkably free from weeds and the cotton crop is considerably benefited. The complete ridging plough is also proving very useful at Indore in growing cotton on flat beds separated by, furrows. The additional surface drainage so provided is followed by better root-development and by increased growth.

·153 APPENDIX VIII. Institute of Plant Industry, Indore. Programme of Future Tork. The programme of cotton investigations submitted to the Central Cotton Committee in 1923 is given below :- The aim of the Indore Institute (as regards cotton investigations) is to provide a centre of research for the black soil tracts. At this centre any problems suggested, either by the Central Cotton Committee or by other workers in India can be taken A special effort will be made to create a good library dealing with the various aspects of cotton production for the use not only of workers at the Institute itself but also of other investigators on cotton in India. While the Institute will always be prepared to consider any useful suggestions as regards problems to be investigated, the following preliminary programme is put forward. This falls into four parts. (a) Botanical Surrey.-Up to the present, little or no attempt has been made in India to isolate, classify and study the unit species which form the frame work of the various species and varieties of cotton found on the black soils. It is true that the Indian cottons have been classified and surveyed from the point of view of systematic botany, but this is entirely inadequate for modern work as by this method cottons of very different agricultural value are not distinguished. The work needs to be carried much further and nothing short of the isolation and study of the unit species will meet the case. This work has a direct practical bearing. It will, in all probability, lead to the isolation of useful types for distributions. It will also provide materinl for the plant breeder and for critical work on the physiology and agronomy of cotton. (1) Plant Breeding.-Tiro main practical problems will be taken up at once: (1) the crcation, establishment and maintenance of an island of long staple cotton on the Malka platcau. The types ·154 isolated will be available for other areas in India and the crop will enable a grade of improved cotton to be established for the mills and for the shippers ; (2) the improvement of the fibre of the hardy Roseum type which is, in all other respects, admirably suited for the low-lying areas of Central India. In the solution of these questions the inheritance of characters will have to be studied. The results will apply not only locally but will also be of general interest. (c) The Physiology of the Cotton Crop. In order to increase production something more than improved varieties is needed. The new varieties must be provided with suitable conditions for growth. To discover these the physiology of the cotton plant must be studied and the factors which now limit production must be determined. This involves the study of root development, the relations of the root system to the soil type and the influence of factors such as soil moisture, soil aeration and drainage, soil texture and soil temperature on growth. Included in these studies is the discovery of factors which produce the shedding of buds, flowers and bolls. During the course of these physiological studies, the general nutrition of the cotton plant will be considered and how far the yield can be improved by manuring and other methods of soil treatment. (d) The Influence of Environmental Factors on the Lint Characters. Modern industries demand a uniform product. Once this is obtained the purchase of raw material as well as the details of manufacture are simplified. In the case of cotton, any tract which can produce uniform lint will rapidly establish its reputation in the trade. It is well known, however, that the cotton fibre alters in character according to the soil on which it grows and to some extent according to the season. Further work is desirable on this matter with the object of discovering what factors bring about these changes, which varieties are most easily affected and whether any practical remedies exist for improving the uniformity of the fibre of the same cotton. This portion of the work is of direct bearing on the question of the maintenance of grades of cotton for the highest class of spinning in this country.

·165 APPENDIX IX. Technical note on the various provincial research schemes financed by the Indian Central Cotton Committee. Bombay Research Schemes. The three officers in charge of the investigations and some of the technical assistants have been placed on special duty by the Government of Bombay, their salaries being met from the Committee's grants and their substantive posts temporarily filled by departmental promotions. The other members of the staff havo been employed on short term contracts. Surat Physiological and Entomological Rescarch Schemes.--These two schemes are closely related. The object of the former is a study of bud, flower and boll shedding and of means for reducing the consequent loss of crop. As the Earias Bollworms are responsible for a considerable amount of shedding it is convenient to discuss the two schemes together. It has been ascertained that of the total flower buds produced only some 10 per cent. yield maturo bolls and that of the flowers that actually open only about 40 per cent. result in mature bolls. It has also been shown that successful flower and boll production is limited to a comparatively short period. Thus in 1924 flower buds were formed from September 1st to December 30th but only during a period of about seven weeks from the end of September did any material production of flowers (30 per cent. of the buds) take place. Similarly flowers which opened after the end of December produced an insignificant proportion of bolls. During the active period of flower production about 50 per cent. of the flowers produced mature bolls and over the whole flowering period about 43 per cent. It appears that the Carias Bollworms are responsible for a loss of about 30 per cent. of flower buds which only represents one-third of the total shedding. On the other hand a loss of 30 per cent. of florers and bolls from this pest is distinctly significant. Further work is in progress from which it is hoped definitely to ascertain the loss which takes place when normally Storn cotton plants are protected from Earias attack. The plıysio. logical work has definitely shown that shedding is not dao cither to disease or to defective pollination of the flower. Climatological data including minfall, liumidity, air and soil temportarce, evapora- ·154 isolated will be available for other areas in India and the crop will enable a grade of improved cotton to be established for the mills and for the shippers; (2) the improvement of the fibre of the hardy Roseum type which is, in all other respects, admirably suited for the low-lying areas of Central India. In the solution of these questions the inheritance of characters will have to be studied. The results will apply not only locally but will also be of general interest. (c) The Physiology of the Cotton Crop. In order to increase production something more than improved varieties is needed. The new varieties must be provided with suitable conditions for growth. To discover these the physiology of the cotton plant must be studied and the factors which now limit production must be determined. This involves the study of root development, the relations of the root system to the soil type and the influence of factors such as soil moisture, soil aeration and drainage, soil texture and soil temperature on growth. Included in these studies is the discovery of factors which produce the shedding of buds, flowers and bolls. During the course of these physiological studies, the general nutrition of the cotton plant will be considered and how far the yield can be improved by manuring and other methods of soil treatment. (d) The Influence of Environmental Factors on the Iint Characters. Modern industries demand a uniform product. Once this is obtained the purchase of raw material as well as the details of manufacture are simplified. In the case of cotton, any tract which can produce uniform lint will rapidly establish its reputation in the trad: It is well known, however, that the cotton fibre alters in charar' according to the soil on which it grows and to some extent acr ing to the season. Further work is desirable on this matter mi object of discovering what factors bring about these changes varieties are most easily affected and whether any practical exist for improving the uniformity of the fibre of the sa- This portion of the work is of direct bearing on the que maintenance of grades of cotton for the highest class this country.

·157 SIND. The Lloyd Barrage canal system eventually will revolutionise cotton growing in Sind as perennial irrigation will replace the present uncertain water supply from inundation canals and a large additional area will come under irrigation. It is estimated that the irrigated cotton area will reach eventually some 700,000 acres. In consultation with the Indian Central Cotton Committee the Government of Bombay has provided a new research station at Sakrand for the investigation of the many problems arising from this radical change in the agricultural system of Sind. The station is provided with a perennial water supply by pumping from a lake thus enabling canal conditions to be reproduced in advance of the completion of the Barrage.canals. The Indian Central Cotton Committee has given & grant of Rs. 20,000 per annum for a period of five years to provide & plant physiologist, staff and equipment for research on cotton physiology which they believe to be of extreme importance to cottongrowing in new canal areas. The staff has not yet been appointed. MADRAS. Herbaceun Botanical Research Scheme. This scheme provides for plant-breeding work on the Herbaceum constituent of the various Madras cottons especially of the Northerns and Westerns type. (Many ladras cottons are mixtures in varying proportion of G. Indicum, G, Herbaceum and natural crosses.) The types under study have a particular value for those areas where the rainfall is low or uncertain and work has been directed to the study of " Unit species" and the isolation of strains of superior staple by pure line selection. During the current season some strains will reach the field test stage. The staff for the scheme has been partly obtained on deputation from the Madras Department of Agriculture and partly on short term contracts. Pempheres and Physiological Scheme.—This scheine, work on which wil start very shortly, provides for a Physiological Botanist and a Biochemist with botanical, chemical and entomological assistants for the study of a group of problems. Work on bud, flower and boll shedding has been carried to a certain stage by the Cotton Specialist to the Madras Government in the course of other work and the results published ; this work will be continued and extended.

·158 (2) The cotton stem weevil, “ Pempheres affinis," threatens to be a limiting factor on cotton production at Coimbatore and there is a risk of its becoming a major pest in other parts of India. The life history has been worked out already but no direct control measures appear possible. An important line of enquiry is the resistance to attack and power of recovery shown by certain strains of cotton, and investigations from both the botanical and chemical aspect have been arranged for. Concurrently certain further entomological data will be collected with special reference to the utilisation of the Madras Pest Act against this insect. The staff for this scheme is now being recruited. UNITED PROVINCES. The Pink Bollworm is by far the most important insect pest of cotton in many parts of India, and is most destructive in the United Provinces and the adjoining part of the Punjab, where, as in Egypt, long cycle larvæ are responsible for most of the carry-over from season to season. The Government Entomologist, United Provinces, had already made this a major item of his research programme. The Indian Central Cotton Committee provided two nonrecurring grants in the first instance to provide insect-proof cages, and subsequently a recurring grant and a further non-recurring grant, for special experiments in seed control and disinfection. An additional grant has recently been sanctioned to enable an additional Entomologist (one of the Committee's Research Students) to be employed for the further development of this work. The preliminary results obtained indicate that the loss of crop is at least 20 per cent. whilst the crop that is secured is very seriously lowered in quality, It has been calculated that effective control of the pest would add anything from 25 to 60 per cent to the cash value of the crop. Results indicate that seed treatment alone would enable a very considerable reduction in the bollworm population to be effected provided that such treatment can be organised on sufficiently extensive a scale. Field experiments to confirm this result are now in progress and further data on flight distribution are being accumulated. The practical point to be determined is whether the treatment of all cotton-seed (in the ginneries) would be sufficient or whether the compulsory removal of the old cotton crop before a certain date is also essential. Legislation may be necessary eventually and it is of the utmost importance that the scientific data should be complete.

·159 res PUNJAB. Botanical Research Scheme. - The earlier work of the Punjab Agricultural Department has led to the establishment in that province of nearly a million acres of Punjab-American cotton (acclimatised Upland American) of about 1" staple grown with canal irrigation and producing some 300,000 bales of cotton annually. This is the largest single addition to the Indian supply of medium-stapled cotton. The whole area is canal-irrigated and the average yield relatively high. The area for the current year is 1,066,00 and the estimated yield 328,000 bales. Various difficulties in regard to both yield and quality in certain years led the Indian Central Cotton Committee to the conclusion that a special cotton research staff was required to deal with the various problems of American cotton-growing under canal colony conditions. A non-recurring grant of Rs. 29,300 was made which provided a special field laboratory and apparatus. The recurring grant of Rs. 45,000 provides for the Cotton Research Botanist, Botanical Assistants and for laboratory contingencies. The Punjab Government have provided a special plant-breeding area on the Agricultural College estate and a farm of 200 acres for testing and multiplication of strains and for field experiments. The Punjab Government have also provided a gazetted agricultural officer as Chief Assistant to the Cotton Research Botanist and meet all cultivation charges. They have also provided a good deal of the initial expenditure connected with the scheme. An exception has been made in this instance and the Cotton Research Botanist has been recruited by the Committee and lent to the Punjab Government. J. Trevor Trought (recently Senior Botanist for the Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt, Cotton Research Board) was appointed Cotton Research Botanist, Punjab, in August 1925. Punjab Entomological Research Scheme.-Working under tho Government Entomologist, Punjab, one of the Committee's Rescarch Students, showed that the Pink Bollworm though at one timo rcported to be of negligible importance in the Punjab is now a Inajor prest in the South-East Punjab and present in appreciable numbers, though only a minor pest at present, in the canal colonics. A grant has been made for an investigation of the factors which limit the spread of the insect under canal colony conditions and work ·160 has been started this year, the Research Student referred to having been appointed Assistant Entomologist for the scheme. The investigation is complementary to the work at Cawnpore and its importance lies in the fact that should this insect become a major pest in the canal colonies (as it is in the United Provinces and South-East Punjab at present) the yield and value of the Punjab- American crop would be very seriously reduced. CENTRAL PROVINCES AND BERAR. The annual grants to the Central Provinces Department of Agriculture have provided for two Research Schemes, viz. : (1) A Botanical investigation of the Central Provinces and Berar cottons with special reference to the improvement of the staple of the Oomra type. (2) A study of cotton wilt in the Central Provinces and Berar, The Committee's grant has enabled the Economic Botanist to Government, Central Provinces, to be relieved of other work and to devote the whole of his time to cotton research of which he had previous considerable experience. The assistants required have been placed on deputation by the Local Government and are paid from the Committee's grant. The Local Government also placed at the disposal of the Economic Botanist for Cotton the Akola farm in Berar with an adequate annual grant for upkeep and cultivation expenses, a plant-breeding area, laboratory, etc., at Nagpur and certain facilities on other farms. A complete survey of the Oomras cotton is in hand and considerable progress towards the production of superior types has been made. The Oomras tract is the largest homogeneous cotton tract in India the general history of which has been the steady replacement of cottons of superior staple by inferior but hardier types and the reversal of this process will only be achieved as the result of thorough and patient experimental work. (2) The cotton wilt investigation is being carried out by the Mycologist to Government, Central Provinces, and the Committee's grant provides for two assistants and for apparatus and contingencies. Preliminary results indicate that the course of this disease in the Central Provinces and Berar is distinctly different to that in the Karnatak and the problem has been attacked from the physiological aspect. The results so far are not conclusive.

·161' BURMA. A small non-rccurring grant of Rs. 3,000 has been made for apparatus for the examination of the cotton fibre and an assistant from the Burma Agricultural Department is at present under training in the Committee's Technological Laboratory in the methods of fibre testing now in use there. The officers carrying out plantbreeding work on cotton in Burma are at a disadvantage owing to the great distance from Bombay and on the return of the assistant now under training part of the initial work on the fibre characters of Burmese cottons will be done locally. GENERAL The progress made on the various Research Schemes is periodically reviewed by the Central Cotton Committee and it so happens this year that a number of important reports will como up for consideration somewhat later than usual. Hence the above summary is not up to date in all respects.

·APPENDIX X. List of Research Students. Where postel. Branch of cotton rescarch in which acholarshin grantei. ITON now employed, RAJANKS. 1.37llpur. Cotton Entomology, Entomological Research Islatant. Punjih. Cotton Botany (Plant Rrealing). Punjab Government scholar at Imperial Col- Irge of Tropical Agriculture. Nr. Do. Senior Rescarch lyxistant, Central Provinces Botanical Sclirme, Colcon (scoloxy, 162 Sosfor Jiycological Resistant, Central Prosincer llycological Scheme, drsno lig" :1. Yor jagiralinton Cotton Botany. Senior Research Student (Cotton ('ytology), Indore institute of Plant Industry. Durur. Do. Sionlor Research Student, Indore Inutituto or Plant Industry. l'olinearr. Do. (No recorel.) Lotupory: Retetech Tortlic Phsales, stunki, 1 Junior Nescarchaf4fant, Teclinological Rrecarch laboratory, Jatine, Bombay. {7*579 Cotton Entomolony. Research **f*tant, rink Bollworin Sefrenc, l'any l'rosincet, Colton I'lg.lolnsy. Neulgnei tonto (an. tut (urther atuts. rond ·APPENDIX X-contd List of Research Students-contd. Your Totat. ale Whero poste Branch of cofton research in which scholarshly granted Ilow now employed RFXARK 19 VaR IS LAR Research Student Do Do Alar you the ye. AF Lan 11 De Do JI) Iana Ilye De Do Pator Icsigned KR Men Ile 163 I. Man Campore Cotton Entomology Lyan Cotton Thotany (Paat Isrending) Do Cotton Latomology Technological Laboratory Cotton Technology Haftunga Borntay Dharwar Cotton Physiology Tearinnlogical talwatory Textilo 17 ysics Matunga Font sy Iho Do Ilo Cotton Microscory Do Cotton Technologi po Textile Phyelco Surat Cotton Physiology Lyallpur Cottoa f'atomology Coimtatott Colton Blo-chemistry Institute of Mart Indutry cotton Botany 11 lote Do Do Research Student Lecturer la Botany Central College, Danga lore nescarch Student Tlama warna honlul Ne Do Do Ama Ireneur NE Aanh Lama ne Do N DO 11. 11 Tirsal 14 Tara Hd Do Do ·164 APPENDIX XI. Progress in the Introduction of Improved Varieties of Cotton in Various Provinces. BOMBAY––(1) Gujerat.-The policy of the Agricultural Department to establish 1027 A.L.F. cottons in the whole tract below the Narbada was continued during the year. The Rajpipla and the Baroda States took effective measures to distribute this seed in their territories. The Co-operative Cotton Sale Societies in the Olpad Taluka continued to grow seed which is somewhat inferior to 1027 A.L.F. but they were persuaded to try 1027 A.L.F. seed on a fairly large scale and some of them have taken more seed for further trial in the coming season. The Agricultural Department controlled 11,600 acres of private seed farms. The resulting seed from this area, amounting to 1,900,000 lbs., was distributed mostly in the tract below the river Narbada. For the Broach tract (north of the Narbada up to Mahi river), a pure type of superior staple "B.D. 91" has been evolved on the Broach Farm. Seed of this type will be multiplied on the whole area of the farm this year and will be available for distribution in the Broach District next year. For the Dholleras tract (North Gujerat beyond Mahi and the major portion of Kathiawar) four pure strains of Wagad cotton were tested under cultivators' conditions. Of these two strains have been rejected and the other two better strains, viz., Pt. 4 and Pt. 8, are now being grown for multiplication on 150 to 200 acres during the current year. (2) Southern Division.—The cultivation of selected types of Kumpta and Dharwar-American varieties of cotton,known respectively as selected Kumpta (Dharwar No. 1) and Upland (Gadag No. 1) is rapidly extending round Hubli and Gadag. The District staff of the Agricultural Department and the Cotton Sale Societies at Hubli and Gadag continued to work together for their extension. Each of these societies started during the year 19 seed depots and distributed seed through the depots and through seed societies. The area under these improved types of cotton amounted to 119,532 acres in the case of Dharwar No. 1 and 97,400 acres in the case of Gadag No. 1, ·165 Extra profits realized by cultivators from the cultivation of these improved varieties during the year are estimated to be Rs. 8,57,000 and the demand for pure pedigree seed is increasing rapidly. Distribution of Dharwar No. 1 cotton seed was extended during the year to a few villages in Athani, Chikkodi and Gokak talukas of the Belgaum District and a few villages of Indi, Bijapur, Bagalkot and Bagewadi talukas of the Bijapur District. The growth in all these villages was satisfactory and the demand for Dharwar No. 1 cotton seed is likely to increase in these two districts also. A new crossDharwar No. 1xRosea strain No. 15which gives a ginning percentage of 33 and has got a staple of 1", was multiplied on Gokak Barm and 1,500 lbs. seed have been reserved for distribution round Gokak and Railhongal in Belgaum District, where experiments with this cotton have been very successful. This cross has all the good qualities of the parents. (3) Khandesh. The distribution of pure Roseum (N.R.) cotton seed continued on a larger scale. About 257,000 lbs. of this seed, sufficient to cover an area of about 18,000 acres, have been distributed by the Department through registered seed growers, seed unions and Taluka Development Associations. In addition, a large quantity of N.R. seed was distributed by cultivators from the balance of sced remaining with them. Experimental work, directed to obtaining a type of cotton of superior staple and suitable to local conditions, has resulted in the isolation of two promising strains, BXX. 27 and BXI 9:34. BXX. 27 was tried on a field scalo on Jalgaon Farm and, as the results were encouraging, a further trial is being made with this strain on about to acres on cultivators' fields over the district, BXI 9.34 will be tried on a field scale for the first time during this year on Jalgaon Farm. LADRAS(1) Tiruppur Cambodia Area.-(a) Cambodia. The work of improvement of Cambodia cotton began seven years ago. The Agricultural Department enters into yearly contracts with selected ryots by which the tyots receive cash advances of Rs. 15 per acrc towards the cost of inter-cultivation operations, and in turn agree to sor the seed supplied by the Department on "seed larms" under departmental supervision. The kapas is ginned co-operatively and the seed is sold to the Department at a firemníum of Rs. 2 ·166 per pothi of 250 lbs. The lint is sold in public auction duly notified on behalf of the ryots concerned. The lint produced is of the best quality, as is testified by the high prices paid and by the cagerness with which auction sales are attended by the representatives of the Bombay and other millowners. At the auctions held during the past seven years, the departmental cotton has always fetched a price of at least Rs. 20 per candy over the prevailing market rate. 219,500 lbs. of seed were purchased from the seed farm ryots in 1925-26 and the major portion of this was distributed for sowing. About 7,000 acres were sown with this seed in 1925-26 of which 1,151 acres were sown under seed farm conditions. Besides these, the extent under natural conditions spread with this improved strain is estimated at 5,000 acres, making 12,000 acres in all. About four-fifths of this area is under strain 295 (Co. 1) and the remainder under strain No.15. 77,704 lbs. of seed of improved strains of Cambodia, sufficient to sow 7,500 acres, were distributed in the Trichinopoly District this year by the Department as well as by some of the ryots. (6) Karunganni.–Karunganni cotton is steadily making head way in the dry lands of the districts of Coimbatore and Trichinopoly, displacing dry land Cambodia and Uppam. In Coimbatore, 4,150 acres were under Karunganni in 1925-26. Seed farms were organized for this variety also and 813 acres were under seed farms in the Coimbatore District. 1,250 lbs. of Karunganni seed, sufficient to sow 125 acres, were distributed in the Trichinopoly District. (2) Tinnevelly Area. Company cotton or Karunganni.-Pure seed (selected Co. type) is distributed by the Agricultural Department, the Seed Unions and by ryots who gin co-operatively and sell jointly. Nine seed unions were working during the year and sold 130,928 lbs. of seed. The total quantity of pure seed distributed by the above-noted agencies in the districts of Madura, Ramnad and Tinnevelly was 298,267 lbs., sufficient to sow an area of 29,826 acres of pure crop. The indigenous cotton crop in these districts is a mixture in which Karunganni has now become the predominant variety. (3) Northerns and Westerns Area.-(a) Northerns Tract.-In the Northerns tract 12,700 acres were sown under “Nandyal 14" ·in the south-east of the province, where, on account of lack of irri. 5 283F. It was grown on about 5,500 acres. cren then the land is unsuitable and irrigation supplies inadequate. tinucd and the "Mollisopi" variety, which is an improved struin of indicun, is being grown on a larger scale than before. Similarly 167 cotton as against 20,180 of last year. This cotton is well suited for red and mixed soils. The yield was higher than last year owing to the favourable season, 380 bales of N.14 lint were sold by the Department at a premium of Rs. 40 per candy of 500 lbs.' Thic remaining quantity was sold by the ryots themselves at a premium of about Rs. 35 to Rs. 40 per candy. (6) Westerns Tract.–The selection Hagari 25 was grown on 179,363 acres. A greater area would have been sown if the scason had commenced earlier. An average premium of Rs. 20-8-0 per bale of 400 lbs. was realized on lint sold by the Department, but the cotton sold by the ryots fetched only a premium of Rs. 2 to Rs. 11 per bale on account of the unsatisfactory finance of the cotton grower and consequent mixing and adulteration of his crop with inferior varieties of cotton. Irrigatel Cambodia.-As compared with 1922-23, the area under irrigated Cambodia in 1925-26 showed increases in all districts, from 100,273 to 100,366 in Coimbatore, froin 13,462 to 42,360 in Salem and Trichinopoly, from 22,096 to 36,967 in Madura, from 21,201 to 29,269 in Ramnad and Tinnevelly and from 167,110 to 210,280 in the Presidency. PUNJAB.-The area under Punjab-American cottons has continued to expand, being 1,065,700 acres in the year 1923-26. The increase is due to very large profits got in the previous years by the potsers. The principal variety 4F (which was first given ont in 1913) was grown on an a m'he latcr eclection 'e drought resistant and a higher yielder, but is not yet popular. It was grown on Marea of only 12,000 acres. Similarly the still later selection 280F, which is just being given out, is a heavier cropper than citler AF 00:285F and its lint is much better than 1F and rather better than The tendency in the Punjab ce arka for the improvement of indigenous cottons has been con 285F (given out in 1921) nor is to grow American cottons ·168 gation facilities, American cotton cannot be grown, a variety of Desi Roseum cotton is becoming popular. The Agricultural Department alone supplied to the farmers seed of this variety sufficient for an area of 21,000 acres. This is in addition to seed kept by the farmers themselves for their own use. UNITED PROVINCES.—The progress in the introduction of improved varieties of cotton in these provinces has been satisfactory. A.19 continues to enjoy the popularity it has achieved by reason of its high yield and high ginning precentage. At least 30,000 acres were under this variety last year; the area was probably much greater since seed is being distributed by a large number of growers from whom no definite records are received. This variety will now spread rapidly over most of the great cotton-growing tract in tħe west of the province. In that tract cotton is sown partly on canal irrigation and partly when the rains break. A rapid-growing, quickly maturing cotton is required in each case; on the canal irrigated fields the cultivator expects to sow a rabi crop, in December after cotton is finished ; late monsoons and early cold weathers frequently make the growing season in the unirrigated areas extremely short. A.19 ripens very quickly once the rains are over ; it yields a large percentage of its crop in a short time. In acldition it germinates readily and gives a good stand of plant in the hot, dry months of May and June, when moisture is difficult to conserve. These characteristics make it well suited to the western districts, which grow more than 50 per cent. of the total cotton of the province. In the central circle the cultivation of J.N.1. is progressing ; the area under this variety has increased from 2,000 acres in the previous year to about 3,000 acres this year. The strains recently isolated in the Botanical Section of the Department are being tried under different environmental conditions. In parts of the Rohilkhand division certain types are appreciated on account of their high out-turns. One of the types known as C.402 yielded as much as 1,184 lbs. per acre, and in the spinning trials was found suitable for 22s. There is no likelihood of an extension of the area under Cawnpore-American. This variety requires special irrigation facilities, and therefore cannot compete with other types under ordinary