1 



To summarize the above it may be said that about 73 per 

 cent, of the exotic Cottons were fit for export — the 4 unfit 

 specimens only wanting additional care in preparation : 



Of the doubtful species nearly 45 per cent, were fit for 

 export, including one of very good thread. 



Of the indigenous Cottons only 2 specimens — or 7i per 

 cent, only were found worthy of recommendation. 



The cause of this was three-fold, and these items may be 

 enumerated as exemplifying the three great defects in native 

 Cotton and native production. 



1st. Short staple (only to be obviated by improved culture 

 and the introduction of exotic varieties, or by hybridizing 

 native Cotton with the pollen of foreign produce). 



2ndly. Partial or total absence of cleaning (not only from 

 seeds but from leaves, sand, and dirt, either intentionally in- 

 troduced or accidentally acquired). 



3rdly. The harsh and curled fibre (due to the natural 

 shortness of it and to want of irrigation of the crop) . 



The standard of excellence was perhaps pitched higher at 

 the time of the exhibition than it would now be, when there 

 is extensive demand for all staples. But, unless marked 

 improvement should be effected on the points above indi- 

 cated, native Cotton can never compete with exotic Cotton 

 carefully grown even in India. 



It is worthy of remark that cost of production formed no 

 item of the information placed at my disposal by exhibitors : 

 and in the absence of this and of positive means of knowing 

 the market value of each kind of Cotton, I am unable to do 

 more than institute an arbitrary distinction between the de- 

 cidedly saleable and the probably unsaleable commodity. 



As to the classification by varieties contained in the last 

 table, I should add that in many instances (as the table 

 itself shows) no reliable conclusion could be arrived at, and 

 the distinct species of 34 of the 53 specimens could not be 

 determined. Of these however 9 appeared to be foreign 

 varieties and 25 indigenous. This conclusion was arrived at 

 from a careful examination of the fibre, seeds, &c, of each 

 specimen. 



Some of the Cottons exhibited were beautiful articles : 

 and if large quantities of equal quality could be produced, 



