. Cotton and other vegetable fibres : their production and utilisation . usually stated that the plant flourishes onrough, dry, stony or rocky soils which are unsuitablefor other crops, but there is little doubt that goodsoils are not unfavourable. On poor soils, the plantsare of somewhat inferior appearance but yield leavescontaining a large proportion of fibre whilst, on richsoils, longer leaves are produced which furnish com-paratively less fibre. It is probable, however, thatin the latter case the greater length df the leaf morethan compensates for the lower percentage of general,
. Cotton and other vegetable fibres : their production and utilisation . usually stated that the plant flourishes onrough, dry, stony or rocky soils which are unsuitablefor other crops, but there is little doubt that goodsoils are not unfavourable. On poor soils, the plantsare of somewhat inferior appearance but yield leavescontaining a large proportion of fibre whilst, on richsoils, longer leaves are produced which furnish com-paratively less fibre. It is probable, however, thatin the latter case the greater length df the leaf morethan compensates for the lower percentage of general, it may be stated that the most suitablesoil is a dry, permeable, sandy loam, containing acertain amount of lime. Good drainage is of greatimportance as the roots of the plants are sensitiveto moisture and are liable to be seriously injured bystanding water. Preparation of the Land.—^The land selected fora plantation should be fairly hilly in order to allowof easy drainage. Most writers agree that it is notnecessary to break up the soil to any great extent, PLATE IX. From the CoUcciions of the Imperial InstiUite
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