390 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



Deiember 6, 1913. 



COTTON. 



WEST INDIAN COTTON. 



Mesere. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool, 

 write as follows, under date November 17, with reference 

 to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton: — 



Since our last report about 200 bales of West Indian Sea 

 Island cotton have been sold; these include about 130 bales 

 Stains and Hybrids Sd. to 91, the remainder being New 

 •Crop St. Kittsand Nevis 17rf. to 19d. 



The market is nominally steady, but spinners have con- 

 siderable stocks from last season and are not eager to purchase. 



The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on 

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week 

 ending November 15, is as follows: — 



The market has remained quiet and unchanged through- 

 out the week. The sales consisted of 100 bales, Extra Fine 

 at 26c. and about 100 liales Fully Fine off in preparation at 

 20.1c. The stock now largely consists of Fine and Fully 

 Fine, which Factors are continuing to hold for their previous 

 asking prices, but on actual bids would probably consent to 

 make some concessions to sell. In the meanwhile we have 

 only to renew our last quotations. 



c.i.f., & 5 per cent. 



We quote, viz., 



Extra Fine 26c. = Hid. 



Fully Fine 24c. = 13|d. „ „ „ „ 



Fine 22c. to 23c. = 12|d. to U^d. „ „ ,, „ 



Tully Fine offUoic. - Ud. „ „ „ „ 



■in preparation J 



This report shows that the total exports of Sea 

 Island cotton from the United States to Liverpool, 

 Manchester and Havre up to November 1-5, 1913, were 

 ■3,220 bales, 3,072 bales, and 1,662 bales, respectively. 



BRITISH COTTON GROWING ASSOCI- 

 ATION AND AUSTRALIA. 



As a result of enquiries made by the Dominion Royal 

 Commission as to the possibilities of cotton growing in 

 Australia and subsequent correspondence and a conference 

 between members of the commission and representatives of 

 the British Cotton Growing Association, the Government of 

 the Commonwealth of Australia, the Government of Queens- 

 land and the Imperial Institute, a letter on the subject was 

 sent recently by the Chairman of the Association to the 

 T)ominions Royal Commission. 



The letter mentions first how anxious and willing the 

 Association is to prove definitely whether cotton can be 

 grown on a commercial basis in any part of Australia. It is 

 pointed out, however, that in regard to their supplying 

 a large sum of money for the necessary experimental work, 

 the fact that the Association has already spent over £170,000 

 on such work prevents their being able to afford to devote 

 any large sua of money towards carrying out the work 

 under immediate consideration. It is suggested to the 

 Queensland Oovernment that in the first instance an agri- 

 culturist with good practical knowledge of cotton growing 

 should be engaged for a period of three years, and he might 

 •with advantage be attached to one of the local Agricultural 

 Departments. He should conduct experiments preferably 

 ■on experimental plots situated on estates. This is often 



done in the United States and in Egypt, and it is generally 

 arranged that the farmer shall be guaranteed a minimum 

 crop. To assist in these experiments, the Association would 

 contribute the sum of £100 per annum towards their cost, 

 for a period of three years, dating from July 1, 1914. 



It is essential to recognize that the question of the seed 

 which is to be used for sowing is the most vital factor. 'No 

 matter how good the soil, or how favourable the climatic 

 conditions, or how excellent the cultivation, unless the seed 

 is sound and well matured and of a variety suitable to the 

 district, the result must be failure.' The danger of growing 

 several varieties in one district is also pointed out. For 

 example, if cotton li inches long and worth, say.lOrf. a pound, 

 is mixed with cotton I inch in length and worth, say, 7</. 

 a pound, it is probable that its value will be less than 6iti. 

 per B). For this reason, amongst many others of equal 

 importance, it is urged that the seed supply should be left 

 in the hands of the Government, and that no one should be 

 allowed either to import or distribute seed except under 

 license from the Government. Further, the ginning anil the 

 baling of the cotton should be under Government control, 

 for it is just as dangerous to mix different growths together 

 in the ginning and baling as it is to so mix the seed. 



As regards the, type of cotton which should be culti- 

 vated, only experience will enable one to decide definitely 

 which type will be most suitable. Sea Island and perennial 

 cotton are to be ruled out at once. Indian cotton is of very 

 low value and would be useless. Egyptian does well under 

 irrigation, but is hardly to be recommended as a rain crop. 

 As regards American, the shorter staple varieties owing to 

 their low value are not likely to prove profitable. It must 

 be remembered that although it has been proved experi- 

 mentally that cotton can be grown in i^)ueensland, the legis- 

 lation against the importation of black labour makes the 

 scale of wages so high that it is necessary to grow only the 

 best types of high value, if the cultivation is to be a success 

 commercially. It would therefore appear that some of the 

 high class varieties of American Upland cotton would be 

 most likely to answer purposes in Queensland. 



After consideration of the whole question, the committee 

 of the Association authorized the followimg offer to the 

 Commission : — 



As already stated £100 per annum will be contributed 

 if the Government decide to undertake the experimental 

 work suggested above. The Association will also supply, free 

 of charge, small quantities of seed for experimental purposes; 

 they will report on samples, superintend sales, keep separate 

 accounts for each shipper and superintend the remit- 

 tance of the proceeds. As well as this, the Association will 

 pay the ocean freight, and will superintend the insurance 

 of the cotton; the Association will, when required, make 

 arrangements for financing cotton or seed by accepting bills 

 drawn on shipment. The Association will furthermore 

 supi>ly ginning and other machinery, baling material and 

 other stores on easy terms of payment, and will give the 

 buyer full advantage of all cash and trade discounts. Finally 

 the Association will guarantee a minimum price for Australian 

 cotton in Liverpool or London of Ghi. per tt)., less 

 insurance, port and other charges, (which amount to about 

 },d. per Bt).) for all cotton forwarded to them for sale and 

 which shall have been produced from an annual variety 

 grown from seed issued by the Government, and which shall 

 be shipped in a clean and merchantable condition. Any 

 surplus which may be obtained over the above mentioned 

 price of G^d. per fc., will be remitted to the planter. It is 

 stipulated that this offer does not apply to any cotton grown 

 from perennial varieties, or from ratooned cotton. 



