M 



" The specimen of Sea Island cotton grown at Singapore, from 

 American seed by Mr. CRANE, is according to my opinion superior 

 to any of the other samples before me. It is silky ; long in staple 

 with a strong and even fibre. I cannot however form a correct 

 estimate of the average quality of the cotton from this plantation 

 as it appears by Mr. Crane's letter that he has sent us only a few 

 of the first pods which have no doubt been carefully picked. The 

 soil however "sandy and near the sea" appears to be well adapted 

 for this variety and if the whole crop will bear any comparison 

 with the first portion produced, this experiment at Singapore may 

 I think be considered as very successful. " 



Reports on further sample sent, 



" The Upland Georgia cotton does not seem to be so well adapted 

 to the soil and climate, being woolly, and the seed separable with 

 difficulty, but the staple is good. The Manila appears to be a 

 failure, being harsh, with a short and w eak fibre. " 



Extract of a letter from W. C. CRANE with a report on small 

 quantities of Egyptian and Peruvian both considered failures: — 

 " It is a pity you did not send sufficient Sea island (2 Maunds) to 

 contend for the gold medal as you had more than sufficient for the 

 purpose, that you sent was pronounced to be the finest grown in 

 India and would have carried the prize easily. " 



From The Journal of The Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia, 

 ( Vol. V, page 120.) 



COTTON IMPORT INTO THE 

 UNITED KINGDOM. 



"After the two large groups of merchandise known as breadstuffs 

 and meat-products, the most important factor of the agricultural 

 import trade of the United Kingdom is Cotton, enormous quantities 

 of which are annually purchased to supply the British mills with 

 raw material. For this staple article which is the basis of one of their 

 greatest manufacturing industries, the British people are largely de- 

 pendent upon the United States. During 1900 there were shipped 

 to the British market from all sources 1,779,000,000 pounds of 

 cotton having an aggregate value of $200,000,000 (gold). Of these 

 imports 1,760,000,000 pounds, worth over $199,000,000, consisted 

 of raw cotton and 19,000,000 pounds, worth $656,000 of waste 

 cotton. 



"Of the raw cotton imported the United States furnished 

 1,365,000,000 pounds, valued at $147,000,000,01* 74 per cent, of 

 the total. Next to the United States the most important source 

 of supply was Egypt. The peculiar, long-fibred cotton of that 

 country was imported to the extent of 312,000,000 pounds, the 

 value amounting to $44,000,000, or 22 per cent. The British East 

 Indies also supplied cotton in considerable quantities. Erom that 

 source 37,000,000 pounds were procured, the value being $3,387,000 



