Expert Workers—Antiquated Methods—Insects and Disease—Educating the Farmer By John B. Griffing 'Tha following very interesting "Preliminary Report of Cotton Improve: ment" by Mr. John B. Griffing, of University of Nanking, who was en ed jointly last year" by the Cotton Mill Owners' Assdciation and the Cotton Anti-Adulteration Association to conduct experimental work and propaganda for the improvement of cotton cultivation in China, was presented at the annual meetings of the two Associations on the 30th ultimo, The work on cotton improvement by the writer may be said to have begun when he accompanied Dr. 0. F, Cook, of Washington, v.c., U.S.A., and Prof. J, H. Reisner, of the University of Nanking, on an expedition of survey of cotton experiments and cotton problems throughout East, Central and North China. The findings of this investigation have been of inestimable value as a basis for the further work on cotton which we have taken up. Subsequent to the survey, the writer, aided by Prof. K. S. Site, of the University of Nanking, made numerous selections of specimens of Chinese cotton from superior individuals of Chinese cotton, looking toward the improvement of the native types. He then returned to the United States, where he secured a supply of the purest American cotton seed of the Trice variety, which was the one giving most' promise of success throughout the many previous experiments. He returned to China: on February 27, 1920, and_established headquarters at the University of Nanking.
The work which has been taken up during the season can best be discussed under different heads.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.