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COMMERCE AND SCIENCE IN COTTON GROWING. 

 By J. W. McCoNNEL, 



Vice-Chairman of the Fine Cotton Spinners 1 and Doubters' 



Association. 



[ABSTRACT.] 



The object of the paper is to suggest the proper objective 

 of cotton growers and breeders. 



Success in cotton growing can only be obtained by the appli- 

 cation of scientific principles. In America cotton growing is 

 contemporaneous with cotton spinning, and spinners have 

 adapted themselves to American cotton. But in India want 

 of science in the past has wrought great evil. In Egypt some 

 attention to scientific principles has brought some measure of 

 success. In all new countries science is essential to cotton. 



No natural cotton is good. All goodness is added by 

 human agencies. 



What is good in cotton ? This is difficult for either grower 

 or spinner to answer. But it is becoming possible in the 

 present day of scientific study in Agricultural Departments 

 and Technological! Institutions. In America practical mill 

 experiments have been made with cottons as classified under 

 the new Official Standards. Bulletin No. 62, U.S. Dept. Agric. 

 mentions that only the qualities of colour and freedom from 

 waste are so far considered. It is recognized that length, 

 strength, clinging qualities, and bleaching qualities are also 

 important. These may be accepted with the addition of fine- 

 ness. But there is room for research work as to the relation 

 between length, strength, adhesiveness, and fineness in cotton, 

 and fineness, strength, and regularity in yarn. 



Cheapness is also necessary for grower and for spinner. 

 Proper cultivation is necessary, but above all the evolution of 

 a prolific strain. Quality and quantity are not incompatible. 



Questions for consideration by countries desiring to grow 

 cotton are stated. For countries already growing cotton th~ 

 two questions are : How can the cotton be so improved as 

 to be worth more money? and How can it be made more 

 prolific so as to cost less to produce ? The author in this 

 paper has attempted to show where the answer is to be found. 



Uniformity, in addition to all other qualities, is essential. 

 Uniformity comes from purity of strain. Reference is made 

 to Mr. Lawrence Balls's work. Purity itself gives value to 

 cotton. This is believed by good practical cotton growers. 



