140 COTTON 



Acting in co-operation with the Government of India 

 the Association voted the sum of 3,000, which, with a 

 similar amount from the Government, was to be spent on 

 certain experiments, which were carried out by Messrs. 

 Shaw, Wallace, and Co., in endeavouring to establish per- 

 ennial or tree cottons. I regret to say that these experi- 

 ments were a failure, and it is rather remarkable that 

 various experiments carried out in several colonies with 

 Caravonica and other perennial types of cotton have been 

 unsuccessful. 



In 1905 the Council voted a sum of 10,000 to be spent 

 by the Government of India in experimental work. Of 

 this amount the sum of 2,000 was actually spent, but 

 afterwards, in view of the heavy demands on the Associa- 

 tion in other Colonies, the Government agreed that the 

 Association should be relieved of further liability in the 

 matter. 



In 1911 representations were made to the Association 

 that local buyers in India would not pay a suitable price 

 for improved qualities of cotton, and that it was of very 

 little use for the Department of Agriculutre to raise and 

 distribute supplies of superior seed unless a higher price 

 was paid for the better than for the ordinary cotton. The 

 Association then offered to establish buying stations and 

 to erect one or two ginning and baling factories, provided 

 that the Indian Government would take half the risk, and 

 would share either the profit or the loss as the case might 

 be, and the Association would undertake that the native 

 farmer should receive the highest possible price for his 

 cotton. In conseque ice of representations from Bombay 

 spinners and merchants, which were perhaps not altogether 

 disinterested, the Indian Government were unable to accept 

 the Association's offer, which would certainly have ensured 

 that the native farmer was properly rewarded for his labour. 



Since then the Association have not taken any further 

 practical steps in India, for they feel that the Government 

 are now thoroughly alive to the great importance of the 

 question, and fully realise that it is to the advantage of the 

 natives to grow cotton, not only in increased quantity, but 

 also of improved quality, so as to be able to command a 

 larger market for their produce. From time to time the 

 Association continue to render valuable assistance to the 

 Government by reporting on samples of new types of 

 cotton. Owing to their close connection with the Lan- 

 cashire trade, both with spinners and brokers, they are in 

 a particularly favourable position to judge as to the suita- 



