2l8 



pies of the crops of a better kind of cotton. They seem to have been 

 chiefly grown in Bandjermassin, where good results were expected 

 in the beginning, but which were, however, not realised. 



In Java also trials were made, chiefly with Gossypium vitifolium. 

 It was found that the seeds came up, but that a certain caterpillar 

 belonging to the " Leaf-rollers" nestled itself in the fruit and des- 

 troyed the largest portion of the crop. This induced Government, 

 in 1839, to cease further trials. 



The thing was, however, again taken up, when 3 or 4 years later, 

 a certain Mr. VAN TOLL, who had managed a cotton plantation in 

 Surinam, came to Java in order to start an undertaking in Cheri- 

 bon. It was expected that his wide experience would bring about 

 better results, and that induced Government to make a contract 

 with this gentleman for conducting new trials, for which, seeds 

 from Surinam, South Carolina and later from New Orleans were 

 sent to him. One bale sent to Holland in 1845, as a result of these 

 trials, seems to have been of a very satisfactory quality; but Mr. 

 VAN TOLL found the crop out of all proportions to the cost and 

 trouble connected therewith, so that in 1847 ^ e asked for and ob- 

 tained the revocation of the agreement.* 



At about the same time Government took up again, at the request 

 of the mother countries and individual persons, trials with foreign 

 varieties of cotton in the envirous, and chose therefore Palembang, 

 the land of the cotton, where the production of the cotton is esti- 

 mated at 30,000 pikuls annually. If the new kinds could be grown 

 anvwhere, then it would be certain in this case as the inhabitants j 

 were acquainted with cotton-growing. The native cotton was some- 

 what short and badly gathered and prepared. It was hoped to 

 bring about a change in this by the importation of new and better 

 kinds of cotton. 



The Netherlands Trading Society being of opinion, that by the 



* Mr. L. J. van Toll came to Java in 1840, with a recommendation from the Mi- 

 nister of Colonies, as specially experienced in the culture and preparation of cotton 

 in the West Indian manner. 



Mr. van Toll made an investigation-tour over Java, at Government costs, which I 

 resulted in his becoming acquainted with the kinds of soil and the climate, as well as, 

 with the disappointments, which were met with in the growing of foreign kinds of j 

 cotton, wherefore he hesitated to start an undertaking on his own account and risk. : 

 He therefore wished preferably to open a sugar plantation. He was however very , 

 willing, on a salary and travelling allowances, provided he was allowed a sugar con- ; 

 ract, to make small trials in the parts of Java, which were most suitable for cotton I 

 culture. A contract was made with Mr. van Toll for the cultivating of sugar and 

 cotton in Kadipatten in the residency Cheribon, and that, with an advance of/80,000 

 without interests. Not much came of this affair, for on the 14th March, 1843, the 

 Government declared the agreement null and void. 



The sugar industry was given over to Baron Leyssius, and the cultivation of cotton j 

 was contracted for with Mr. van Toll. 



The contract for cotton was nullified in the year 1847, 011 tne request of the con- 

 tractor after he had spent from 4 to 5 thousand guilders on the affair, without having 

 had the slightest advantage. 



The Director of Cultivation remarks on that, "that the appearance of this expert 

 in Java has not brought the cultivation of cotton for the foreign markets, one step for- 

 ward but has only served to verify that which undertakings of former years have 

 already clearly shewn namely that the nature <'f the soil and the climate of this 

 island are not suitable for the cultivation of foreign cotton on a large scale." 



The Director of Cultivation wrote to the Government in 1856 to that effect. 



