28a 
COMMERCE AND SCIENCE IN COTTON GROWING. 
By J. W. McConnet, 
Vice-Chairman of the Fine Cotton Spinners’ and Doublers’ 
Association. 
[ ABSTRACT. ] 
The object of the paper is to suggest the proper objective 
of cotton growers and breeders. 
Success in cotton growing can only be obtained by the appli- 
cation of scientific principles. In America cotton growing is 
contemporaneous with cotton spinning, and spinners have 
adapted themselves to American cotton. But in India want 
of science in the past has wrought great evil. In Egypt some 
attention to scientific principles has brought some measure of 
success. In all new countries science is essential to cotton. 
No natural cotton is good. All goodness is added by 
human agencies. 
What is good in cotton? This is difficult for either grower 
or spinner to answer. But it is becoming possible in the 
present day of scientific study in Agricultural Departments 
and Technological Institutions. In America practical mill 
experiments have been made with cottons as classified under 
the new Official Standards. Bulletin No. 62, U.S. Dept. Agric. 
mentions that only the qualities of colour and freedom from 
waste are so far considered. It is recognized that length, 
strength, clinging qualities, and bleaching qualities are also 
important. These may be accepted with the addition of fine- 
ness. But there is room for research work as to the relation 
between length, strength, adhesiveness, and fineness in cotton, 
and fineness, strength, and regularity in yarn. 
Cheapness is also necessary for grower and for spinner. 
Proper cultivation is necessary, but above all the evolution of 
a prolific strain. Quality and quantity are not incompatible. 
Questions for consideration by countries desiring to grow 
cotton are stated. For countries already growing cotton th? 
two questions are: How can the cotton be so improved as 
to be worth more money ?—and How can it be made more 
prolific so as to cost less to produce? The author in this 
paper has attempted to show where the answer is to be found. 
Uniformity, in addition to all other qualities, is essential. 
Uniformity comes from purity of strain. Reference is made 
to Mr. Lawrence Balls’s work. Purity itself gives value to 
cotton. This is believed by good practical cotton growers. 
