Fibres. 



128 



results than the other. The first crop gave one man 690 lbs. and the other 2,925 lbs. 

 of seed cotton ; in other word^s, 230 lbs. and 975 lbs. per acre, which would amount 

 to 60 lbs. ginned (lint) cotton and 165 lb. cotton seeds and 279 lb. lint and 696 lb. 

 seeds respectively. These results compare very favourably with the figures given 

 by Dr. H. M. Fernando in the Tropical Agriculturist of June last, viz., 200 lb. 

 lint cotton and 500 lb. seeds per acre. Such being the results of cultivation when 

 so scanty are the attention and pains bestowed on it, it goes without saying that 

 the soil of Delft is well adapted for cotton, and that its cultivation under improved 

 and scientific methods with the advantages now so liberally placed at the very 

 door of the poorest of villagers by the Ceylon Agricultural Society, muse be very 

 profitable indeed. 



DR. THQMATIS AND HIS CARAVONICA COTTON. 



Dr. Thomatis, Queensland, writes the following to us :— " My Caravonica 

 is being introduced in French Congo and Dahomey, and in Central America is 

 already in great favour. One planter in Brazil has ordered no less than one ton 

 of seed of Caravonica, one wool, and one quarter ton of each of the silk and 

 kidney. He intends to grow over 10,000 hectares at once or 25,000 acres. In 

 Colombia, Mexico and Guatemala it is being grown largely, so Caravonica revisits 

 the country of its parents. 



" Prom several parts of India I have been asked to come over and act as 

 adviser, consulting or visiting inspector of Caravonica cotton plantations. As I 

 wish for a change after thirty years of Australian residence, and as the labour 

 conditions are now much against expanding tropical agriculture in Australia, and 

 also as one of my nephews is Avilling to come out and act as manager for me here, 

 I would be ready to come to India and do above work provided a competent 

 annual remuneration were guaranteed me for at least three years to start with' 

 To make the suggestion practical and easily carried out, I would say that each 

 Native State Government, each Local District or Municipal authority, or Board or 

 Association, and each individual Caravonica cotton grower, should submit and 

 contribute a quota to this fund of my remuneration, say from £10 to £100 according 

 to importance, size of district, and to the area under Caravonica cotton. In fact, 

 it would be based at so much an acre planted, or to be planted, with Caravouica. 

 This would be for all India, Burma, Ceylon. I would travel continually, to and 

 fro. Of course I should have a free pass on all railways. I could easily attend 

 to the wants and requirements of every planter throughout the year. If £2,000 

 were guaranteed me yearly for three years, I would arrange to come at once and 

 commence my work. Of course a kind of committee should be appointed by the 

 subscribers to guide me in my movements and duties, as I should not like the 

 arrangements to be left at my discretion and entire responsibility. It should 

 be also understood that if new subscribers should come in I should get the addi- 

 tional income from the additional subscriptions above the £2,000. 



"In this way I would have the opportunity of studying and making 

 researches for the improvement and culture of my Caravonica exactly in loco so 

 as to adapt it to the climatic conditions and also as to soil and position. 

 I feel sure my suggestion, if properly considered, could be of great advantage 

 and help, and by the way of subscription according to acreage it would 

 become very light to all Caravonica growers, who would hardly feel the 

 voluntary tax. I have been desired to go on a similar basis to Africa, but I 

 s-hould prefer India." 



