586 FIBRES 



The export from Java and Madura to the under- 

 mentioned countries in 1912 and 1913 amounted to (in 

 tons of 1,000 kilograms): 



1912 1913 



Netherlands ... ... ... 143 ... 209 



United Kingdom ... ... ... 10 



Germany ... ... ... ... 13 



Total ... ... ... 166 209 



The export from the islands of the Archipelago 

 adjacent to Java and Madura in 1912 and 1913 amounted 

 to the following quantities which were shipped to the 

 undermentioned countries : 



1912. 1913- 



Tons Tons 



Netherlands ... ... .... 62} 



Japan ... ... ... ... if 



Total ... 63 51 



COTTON. 



Distribution in the Netherland East Indies. The cotton 

 plant grows best in the regions between 36 North and 

 36 South Latitude. Some varieties are also indigenous 

 to the Netherland East Indies, especially those in Palem- 

 bang, in Sumatra, and in Demak and Kediri, in Java. 



Cultivation. The cultivation of cotton in the Nether- 

 land East Indies is up to the present carried on entirely 

 by the natives as a catch-crop. At first the product was 

 only used for making clothes, which domestic industry, 

 however, suffered very much from the import of wo\en 

 goods of cheap manufacture, although to a certain extent 

 it is still in existence. 



The cotton cultivation carried on by European planters 

 has, up to the present, not proved profitable, and 

 European capital is concerned almost entirely with the 

 purchasing of the raw product and the trade in it, and 

 in some cases the supplying of seed and the cleaning 

 of the product. 



As an additional cultivation cotton has shown a certain 

 vitality, which justifies the best hopes for the future, 

 since the Government of the Netherland East Indies has 

 given undeniable proofs that it is willing to look well after 



