The Project The Galathera syndrome affects cotton growing in the Namoi Valley, north-western New South Wales. Its symptoms include stunting and foliar discolouration of young seedlings, from which the plants may recover: but too late to reach their genetic potential for lint yield. An earlier bioassay showed the presence of phytotoxin(s) in a Galathera-prone soil from the property of Auscott Pty. Ltd., Narrabri, N.S.W. (plate 1). This project sought to test that result and to find chemical and physical differences between Galathera and nearby nonGalathera soils which might account for differences, if any, in their phytotoxic properties.