DB. COLLINOWOOD ON XUTMEG-CCLTITATION IN SINGAPORE. 49 



Cotton is another product the cultivation of which has been 

 attempted in Singapore. The cotton-plant always thrives well 

 in private gardens ; and I have seen large pods of good quality 

 on plants in such situations. The only large plantation which 

 has given it a fair trial, however, was that of the late enter- 

 prising Mr. d'Almeida, who for two successive years expended 

 considerable sums in the experiment. But cotton-cultivation 

 failed for the same causes as those above referred to — the absence 

 of regular seasonal changes, and the irreguJarity of the downfalls 

 of rain, which cannot be predicted with any certainty, and there- 

 fore cannot be guarded against. The cotton grew magnificently ; 

 the pods were produced and burst open ; and then a downpour of 

 rain would ruin the fibre before it could be gathered. Another 

 cause which led to its abandonment was the appearance of a 

 small red beetle which proved very destructive to the pod. 



The same gentleman tried (7o^^-planting, and spent and lost 

 many thousands of dollars by the untliankful experiment. It 

 has also been attempted by others without success ; and a com- 

 pany formed for that purpose failed. Here, again, the causes of 

 failure are chiefly natural ones, of the same kind as those already 

 alluded to. The cofiee-plants require shelter; and the indis- 

 criminate cutting down of the jungle had left the country entirely, 

 open, and no shade could be obtained. Then the irregularity of 

 the seasons prevented the plants from attaining that perfection 

 which otherwise they might have done, while the uncertain raina 

 were a further source of injury to the crops. The flowers might 

 be in promising profusion, when a heavy shower would suddenly 

 fall upon them and destroy two-thirds at one blow. Another 

 difficulty which interferes with this and other cultivation is the 

 comparatively high price of labour. Anything which requires 

 much manual labour in the preparation is sure to languish at 

 Singapore from the difficulty of persuading the Malays \o work 

 for any consideration ; and the Chinese are the only people who 

 can be induced to perform laborious occupations. 



This last cause has been mainly influential in preventing the 

 cultivation of Cinnamon. This tree, with very little care, grows 

 . beautifully in Singapore, and would doubtless prove a source of 

 wealth, were it not for the great expense of its manufacture. 

 The various and tedious processes which the bark has to undergo 

 in its rem(tval and preparation cost more than the spice will 

 fetch in the market. In other cinnamon-producing countricK^ 

 as* in Ceylon, these processes are performed chiefly by children^ 



J^.^OTANTCAl 



/"* A ^^ 7-\ r^ xr 



