152 COTTON TEXTILES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



coarse cloth for the natives, by means of rude machinery ; but it was 

 found that the English ami German cotton fabrics could be bought for 

 very much less than the Philippine goods, and the industry was allowed 

 .to languish until it died out entirely. The rapid growth of the hemp 

 and sugar trade here probably contributed largely to this result, for the 

 natives, as well as the Europeans, soon learned that there was much 

 money to be made out of hemp and sugar and very little, if any, out of 

 cotton. 



But within the past two years interest in the subject of cotton grow- 

 ing has been revived by the experiments made with American and 

 Egyptian cotton seed by some Spaniards and Mestizos, who have con- 

 ceived the idea that the Philippines can. be made to yield to Spain a 

 rich revenue if the plant is cultivated after modern methods. The cli- 

 mate and soil in some parts of the archipelago have been declared fa- 

 vorable to the rapid growth of cotton, and the experiments, which thus 

 far have been conducted on a small scale, have supported this conclu- 

 sion. Last year a small quantity of excellent cotton was raised and 

 sent to Barcelona, where it was manufactured into table-cloths and 

 napkins and returned to Manila, where they were exhibited in the re- 

 tail dry goods stores as evidence of the possibilities of cotton culture 

 here, and attracted a great deal of attention. This has encouraged 

 those who have taken an active interest in the subject, and it is consid- 

 ered possible that within a few years cotton may have a place among 

 the exports of the Philippines. 



TREE COTTON. 



The tree cotton, which is very plentiful in nearly all the islands, has 

 been experimented with to some extent, but, I am told, without satis- 

 factory results, the fiber being too short for spinning. Again it is as- 

 serted that if the proper machinery were used for cleaning it it would 

 be found that it .could be spun and might take the place of bush cotton 

 for many purposes. Its production would cost nothing except the ex- 

 pense of gathering, as it needs no cultivation. Samples of it were sent 

 to England a short time ago, where it was mistaken, it is said, for Tahiti 

 or Sea Island cotton, the fiber being found quite long enough for spin- 

 ning if properly cleaned. Here it is used for stuffing pillows, cushions, 

 mattresses, etc., but I believe that no attempt has ever been made here 

 to spin it. It is thought, however, that if a proper machine for clean- 

 ing and preparing it for market could be had it might be made a 

 good profit-yielding article of export. 



ALEX. E. WEBB, 



Consul. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Manila, August 8, 1889. 



