349 
cultivation.  As  an  example  of  troubles  that  might  threaten  its 
success,  I would  mention  that  from  personal  observation  I am  in- 
clined to  believe  that  Kala-kala  is  particularly  liable  to  damage 
from  weevils.  The  separation  of  the  cotton  from  the  seed  cannot 
in  such  cases  be  done  by  gins  and  the  cost  of  manual  separation 
would  add  enormously  to  the  cost  of  production.  There  may  also 
l)e — and  in  fact  there  probably  are — other  difficulties  which  cannot 
now  be  foreseen.  As  an  example  of  difficulties  that  are  practically 
impossible  to  foretell,  I would  mention  that  the  one,  so  far,  un- 
surmountable  obstacle  to  the  success  of  the  ramie  trade  is  the  fact 
that  the  fibre  is  too  long.  To  say  of  a fibre  that  it  is  too  long  is 
tantamount  to  saying  it  is  too  good. 
17.  If,  however,  I have  made  out  a case  for  supposing  it  would 
be  worth  the  while  of  Government  to  consider  this  matter  seriously 
I would  urge  that  with  a view  to  its  doing  so,  a small  Committee, 
chiefiy  composed  of  planters,  should  be  requested  to  visit  Java  and 
observe  and  record  such  practical  results  in  regard  to  cotton  culti- 
vation as  they  consider  noteworthy.  If  the  report  of  such  a Com- 
mittee was  favourable,  the  cultivation  of  cotton  as  a catch-crop,” 
or  otherwise,  should,  I think,  be  encouraged  by  Government. 
iS.  Such  a Committee  should,  I would  suggest,  also  try  to 
arrive  at  some  arrangement  by  which  Javanese  emigration  to  the 
Federated  Malay  States  might  be  encouraged.  The  over-population 
of  Java  is  yearly  causing  greater  concern  to  the  Government  of 
that  Island  and  for  many  years  every  encouragement  has  been 
offered  to  labourers  to  leave  Java  for  Dutch  possessions,  which  are 
much  In  want  of  coolies.  But  there  is,  I understand,  a strong  feeling 
among  the  Javanese  against  emigrating  to  Sumatra  and  Borneo. 
It  would  seem  that  the  same  objection  does  not  exist  to  coming  to 
the  Federated  Alalay  States,  and  if  It  is  demonstrated  to  the  Gov- 
ernment of  Java — as  I believe  it  would  be  possible  to  do — that 
Javanese  emigrants  do  not  generally  become  permanent  settlers 
here,  it  might  be  possible  for  us  to  come  to  some  agreement  with 
with  the  Dutch  Colonial  Government  that  would  be  mutually  ad- 
vantageous. 
I have  the  honour  to  be, 
Sir, 
Your  obedient  Servant, 
A.  S.  BAXENDALE. 
The  Federal  Secretary, 
Federated  Malay  States. 
COFFEE. 
It  is  sometimes  suggested  that  Indian  coffee  planters  might 
follow  to  their  own  advantage  the  example  of  tea-planters  by  en- 
deavouring to  push  their  coffee  as  a specialty  on  the  market  here. 
While  it  may  be  doubted  if  the  result  would  have  justified  the 
considerable  outlay  necessary  to  do  this  on  a large  scale,  there  is 
