88 



The British Cotton Growing Association has done excellent 

 work in the past, and will, I hope, do more excellent work in 

 a larger field in the future. Circumstances are in its favour. 

 There is almost an illimitable demand for cotton, and there 

 seems no probability of an illimitable growth of cotton. Cocoa, 

 coffee, rubber and other commodities are quite as attractive to 

 the producer. 



I am inclined to think, therefore, that cotton will on the whole 

 remain relatively high in price. From the point of view of the 

 British Cotton Growing Association I hope so. For, successful 

 as it has been, I fear the prices of 1898, when Middling 

 American averaged only 3*31 d. per lb., would make the con- 

 tinuance of its operations difficult if not impossible. 



In the few remarks I have made on Mr. Mutton's paper I 

 have spoken of the desirability of increasing the growth of 

 cotton in the British Empire. I do not forget this is an 

 International Congress of Tropical Agriculture. It only 

 remains for me to say in conclusion that we do not take a 

 narrow or particularist view of this question. We shall be 

 only too delighted to see an increase in the growth of cotton 

 in other Empires than ours, and Mr. Hutton has shown how 

 ready the British Cotton Growing Association is to give to the 

 world the benefit of the knowledge and experience it has gained 

 during the last decade. 



On the motion of the PRESIDENT, a vote of thanks was unani- 

 mously accorded to Lord Derby and to Mr. Hutton. 



