267 



7. The tree cotton (Gossypium Arbor eurn) is cultivated to a 

 limited extent in Negri Sembilan and elsewhere, but the staple of 

 this is too short to be of use to the spinners, and need not therefore 

 be taken into consideration. 



I have, etc., 



STANLEY ARDEN, 

 Superintendent, Experimental Plantations. 



IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. 



South Kensington, London, S. W. 



Report on a sample of cotton from the Federated Malay States, 

 by Professor Wyndham R. DUNSTAN, M.A.F. R.S., Director. 



Ref. No. 8,165. 



In connection with the general enquiry which is being carried on 

 at the Imperial Institute with reference to cotton growing in the 

 various British Colonies and Dependencies, a letter, dated the 13th 

 July, 1904, was addressed to the High Commissioner of the Federated 

 Malay States, asking for information with regard to the prospects 

 of cotton cultivation in these States and also for representative 

 samples of the products. 



2. In reply, a letter dated the 9th September, 1904, was received 

 from the High Commissioner, in which it was stated that a sample 

 of Egyptian cotton grown in the Federated Malay States was being 

 forwarded to the Imperial Institute for valuation and report. This 

 letter was accompanied by a copy of a report by Mr. STANLEY 

 ARDEN, Superintendent, Experimental Plantations, Selangor. dated 

 the 30th August, 1904, and also by some printed correspondence 

 containing the opinions and experience of planters and others on 

 the subject of cotton growing in the Federated Malay States. 



The samples of cotton were received in due course at the Imperial 

 Institute, with a letter from the Superintendent of Experimental 

 Plantations, dated the 26th October, 1904, which states that the cot- 

 ton had been grown from Egyptian seed in the Government Ex- 

 perimental Plantations, Batu J iga, Selangor. 



The samples have been examined in the Scientific and Technical 

 Department of the Imperial Institute and the commercial value of 

 the cotton has been ascertained by reference to experts. Sample 

 No. I was labelled "Egyptian Cotton," (Hand-ginned) and consisted 

 of about 4 ozs. of brownish cottun of somewhat uneven colour and 

 good average strength. On comparing this material with a standard 

 brown Egyptian cotton, it was found to be slightly inferior in colour 

 fineness, softness, and lustre, but was of good length varying from 

 1.2 to 1.5 inches. Sample No. 2 was labelled "Egyptian Cotton" 

 and consisted about 8 ozs. of unginned cotto.i of apparently the 

 same growth as Sample No. I. The seeds were smooth and dark 

 brown in colour, the fibre was easily detached from the seeds and 

 possessed the characters already described. 



