Transactions and Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh Volume . 7 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 edition. Excerpt: ...with a view to the improvenieiit of the imli sellons species. I liuisl premise lluit the mode of improving the inilive cotton has heeii siii.'.restod liy the Mmipiis of Twced'lulo, who explained the process to Mr Thomas, the collector ni' t'oimbaloro, ill a letter which that gentleman eiinilinniiciteil In me. "The process is us billow s;--I'rniii the-1 pods ostitis year's crop take mil those seeils to which the largest tlhres are attucheil. establishing a minimum length of llhro, ami throwing away all those nr-1-the rotton of which does nut reie'li this standard: these selected seeds will lo used tor the next crop, and a similar process will 1m-followed w ith this, the mini mum length lioing increaseil every year. In this way. in the course of a few years it is probable that a permanent niMition will lie nunle lo the length anil possibly to the fineness of the tilire, ami it will then he easy to spread the seed of the improved kind over the whole, of the indigenous cotton fields of India. "In the resolution of the Governor-tiencral in Council to which allusion has been made, a former resolution of L'-th February is referred to, in which the following principle is laid down: 'That no measure which places (iovernment in the position of the private capitalist, or cultivator, or which in any way interferes with private enterprise, can lie otherwise than permanently injurions in itself ami detrimental to the object in view. Therefore all attempts to stimulate cultivation or labour by any exertion of (Jovernnient authority, directly or indirectly, are out of the question. The same objection w ill apply to model farms and experimental cultivation conducted by officers of (iovernment.' "Approving generally of the principle laid down....