397 
5-  Unfortunately  for  the  cultivation  of  the  plant  producing  this 
particular  crop,  it  is  very  susceptible  to  disease,  and  the  very  humid 
atmosphere  prevailing  in  this  country  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the 
growth  of  fungi,  and  I don’t  think  1 am  overstating  the  case  when 
I say  that  I do  not  remember  having  examined  a single  specimen 
of  any  species  of  Gossypium  that  was  entirely  free  from  fungus. 
Now  this  is  an  extremely  important  question  and  one  that  must  be 
constantly  fought  in  countries  with  a much  drier  climate  than  this 
and  where,  therefore,  the  atmospherical  conditions  are  not  so  con- 
ducive to  the  growth  of  fungi. 
6.  The  damage  done  bv  weevils  is  touched  upon  in  the  letter, 
and  from  what  I have  seen  of  this  and  other  insects  I am  convinced 
that  thev  will  prove  a most  formidable  barrier  to  the  successful  cul- 
tivation of  cotton  in  these  States.  The  risk  of  danger  from  both 
these  pests  mav  be  considerably  minimised  by  cultivating  quick- 
growing varieties. 
7.  The  character  ot  the  soil  is  another  factor  of  the  greatest 
importance — the  cotton  plant  being  somewhat  particular  in  this 
respect,  while  the  cultivation  should  be  thorough,  the  fields  being 
prepared  much  in  the  same  way  as  for  the  cultivation  of  sugar. 
The  land  must  be  kept  in  a high  state  of  cultivation  and  it  is  re- 
commended that  cattle  be  kept  and  fed  on  the  residue  of  the  cotton 
seed  from  which  the  oil  has  been  extracted,  in  which  case  the  re- 
sultant manure  would  prove  an  ideal  fertilizer.  Mr.  Herbert  J. 
Webber,  physiologist,  in  charge  of  the  plant-breeding  laboratory 
in  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  U.  S.  A.,  recently  gave  it  as  his 
opinion  that  even  in  the  United  States  it  is  impossible  to  greatly 
increase  the  acreage  devoted  to  cotton,  though  much  could  be  done 
to  increase  the  yield. 
8.  The  available  labour  supply  is  also  a question  that  must  be 
seriously  considered,  and  I don’t  think  that  Mr.  Baxendale's  sug- 
gestion of  growing  a variety  of  cotton  that  will  “ be  perpetually 
bearing  a few  pods  at  a time”  quite  meets  the  situation.  Firstly, 
there  would  be  a large  increase  in  the  cost  of  picking,  ginning, 
baling  etc. ; secondly,  a very  large  increase  in  the  cost  of  upkeep  ; 
and,  thirdly,  the  liability  of  loss  from  disease  would  be  enormously 
enhanced.  In  the  case  of  Sea  Island  Cotton  a return  may  be  ex- 
pected in  six  to  eight  months,  but  if  by  cultivating  a slow-growing 
variety,  the  planter  must  wait,  say,  two  years  before  getting  a 
return  equal  to  that  from  Sea  Island  Cotton  in  the  first  year,  I 
think  we  may  safely  estimate  the  increased  cost  under  the  heading 
of  upkeep  alone  at  about  25%. 
' 9.  It  will  no  doubt  be  readily  conceded,  that  there  is  a vast  field 
open  for  investigation  in  the  cultivation  of  this  product  in  the 
Federated  Malay  States,  where  hitherto  any  systematic  attempts 
at  cultivation  are,  I believe,  entirely  unknown.  It  does  not  follow, 
of  course,  that  the  most  highly  prized  varietv  of  cotton  in  one 
country  will  be  the  most  successful  in  another,  even  when  the  con- 
ditions are  to  all  appearances  identical.  Assistance  might  he  ren- 
