COTTON-WOOL. 



141 



rican upland cotton pays about twelve shillings ; Bombay 

 and as we think it may be reasonably supposed that Feb. 1829. 

 the present exceedingly low prices of cotton-wool ^ 

 of all kinds may not be permanent, the recent 

 alteration in the consumption duty will operate in 

 favour of Indian cotton in an increased ratio as 

 the general prices of cotton may increase. But it 

 must be evident from what we have above said, 

 that this Parliamentary encouragement will not be 

 sufficient to introduce Indian cotton into general 

 use in the home market, unless measures shall be 

 taken in India for applying greater skill as well as 

 capital to its cultivation. 



8. Experience has convinced us, that the im- 

 proved cultivation of Indian cotton, so as to render 

 it fit for the British market, will not be effected 

 merely by the countenance and occasional encou- 

 ragement of Government ; we have therefore re- 

 solved, that an experimental plantation for cotton 

 shall be established, at the expense of the State, 

 within the territories under your authority. The 

 manner of carrying this into operation we are dis- 

 posed to commit entirely to your judgment and 

 local knowledge. It appears, however, that it will 

 be advisable, in the first instance, that a piece of 

 ground, either in the possession of Government or 

 to be hired for the purpose, should be selected in 

 the most suitable place that can be found (say to 

 the extent of perhaps two hundred English acres), 

 and that a person, either Native or European, of 



competent 



