AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 237 



gramme — (about 75 cents a pound.) Thread has been made of 

 it of number 250 to 260, simple thread, and 400 twist. On the 

 other hand Mens. Feray, who was requested to try experiments 

 with this cotton, (the growtli of 1852,) reported it to have the 

 same fineness, strength and length of staple of the American, and 

 sells in the Havre market for from 7U0 to 900 francs the 100 

 kilogrammes. The product per acre in Algeria is worth about 300 

 francs. Some fourteen hundred acres have been planted. The 

 first thing to be done is to obtain good sea island cotton seed for 

 the planters. In 1850 government obtained the seed and distri- 

 buted it among the colonist planters. The seeds should be of the 

 first quality. 



Premiums must be given for the introduction of gins — the 

 roller gin and saw gin. A ginning establishment has been made 

 to gin all the cotton of the province of Oran, on the farm of 

 Abal, belonging to St. Maur, the prefect. Premiums of 2,000, 

 3,000 and 5,000 francs should be given to growers of cotton. 

 With the proposed necessary encouragement, I have no doubt 

 that in less than ten years cotton will be a fixed crop of Algeria. 



DECREE OF THE EMPEROR ON THIS REPORT. 



Napoleon, by the Grace of God and the national wall. Emperor 

 of the French. Henceforth cotton culture shall be a state sub- 

 ject for encouragement. 



1 . Seeds sliall be furnished by it. 



2. For 3 years from 1854, the state will buy all that is raised, 

 and at a price to be fixed annually. 



3. At the end of 3 years, and for two more years, premiums 

 shall be given on Algerian cotton brought to France. 



4. For five years from 1854, premiums shall be allowed for 

 gins brought into Algeria. 



5. Provincial premiums, (three for each province,) 2,000, 

 3,000, 5,000 francs shall be granted to colonial planters for the 

 best and largest crops of cotton. . 



Considering its high importance, we decree : 



1. 100,000 francs from our civil list for encouragement of cot- 

 ton growth of Algeria. 



2. From 1854 a prize of 20,000 francs, (called the Emperor's 

 Prize,) to that planter of the three provinces of Algeria who shall 

 raise the largest and best crop of cotton. 



3. A special committee annually to be appointed by the Gov- 

 ernor General of Algeria, to decide on the competition. 



