Indian Government to the cultivation of cotton in 

 India, " with a view to affording every encourage- 

 ment to its growth and improvement" have 

 entailed considerable expense, while it cannot be 

 acknowledged that Government has succeeded in 

 the task it set itself. 



True, the exotic variety is now grown to a certain 

 extent in Guzerat and other parts of Western 

 India with apparent success, the returns per acre 

 being larger, and the produce cleaner ; but we have 

 unmistakeable evidence to show that the best crops 

 are obtained only from freshly-imported seeds, and 

 that the exotic variety grown from acclimatized 

 seed is rapidly degenerating. 



Even in America a deterioration of the staple is 

 going on, as would appear from the following 

 extract : 



(DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WASHINGTON.) 



" The production, sale, and consumption of cotton are 

 subjects of so much interest, that everything pertaining 

 thereto should be well understood. Planters, as well as 

 merchants and manufacturers, may profit by lessons 

 elicited by a comparison of the experiences and observa- 

 tions of those engaged in its cultivation, marketing, and 

 manufacture. The correspondence of this Department 

 with intelligent planters of the South, made the impression 

 that the quality of cotton offered in our markets had 

 greatly deteriorated within the last twelve years, and 

 thus induced me to prepare the following circular, 

 requesting cotton-growers of the South, and manufacturers 



