395 
which,  by  careful  selection,  has  been  brought  to  a condition  of 
great  excellence.  In  some  instances,  for  special  grades,  as  much 
as  seventy  cents  per  pound  has  been  obtained.  Much  of  this  high 
class  product  is  used  for  the  manufacture  of  the  best  quality  of 
mercerized  cotton  and  also  to  mix  with  silk  for  various  kinds  of 
artificial  silk  goods  and  for  the  strengthening  of  automobile  tires. 
For  this  latter  use  there  is  a large  demand  at  fancy  prices  for  all 
the  highest  quality  that  can  be  produced.  From  samples  exhibited 
by  Mr.  Wilcox,  the  best  Hawaiian  cotton,  if  properly  prepared,  is 
equal  to  the  finest  of  the  mlainland  product,  and  this  fact  is  borne 
out  by  the  opinion  of  experts  to  whom  samples  of  our  local  fiber 
have  been  submitted. 
One  remarkable  thing  about  the  mainland  planters  is  their  con- 
servatism. Although  a small  body  of  growers  have,  through  the 
adoption  of  seed  selection  and  other  methods  of  improvement, 
evolved  a cotton  of  superior  merit  which  commands  prices  of  from 
thirty-five  cents  per  pound,  the  general  planter  is  content  to  grow 
an  inferior  article  for  which  he  only  receives  about  nineteen  cents. 
This  is  the  more  remiarkable  when  it  is  known  that  the  plantations 
which  thus  cling  to  old  methods  are  practically  contiguous  to  the 
more  enterprising  ones,  thus  showing  that  the  spread  of  good  ideas 
is  a very  slow  process  even  among  apparently  enlightened  people. 
The  cultural  operations  of  cotton  are  well  known  so  that  it  is 
inexpedient  and  unnecessary  for  the  Hawaiian  planters  to  experi- 
ment in  this  direction.  A thorough  shallow  cultivation  is  impera- 
tive and  no  one  should  contemplate  the  production  of  this  crop  un- 
less he  can  give  it  the-  requisite  attention.  The  main  difficulties 
are  to  be  found  in  the  method  of  picking  and  curing  the  fiber. 
So  far  as  the  handling  is  concerned,  the  local  pickers  have  much, 
to  learn  from  the  Southern  negroes,  who  are  able  to  gather  from 
seventy  to  one  hundred  pounds  a day.  The  Japanese  are  at  present 
not  nearly  so  efficient,  but  they  should,  when  they  have  attained 
the  necessary  dexterity,  do  much  better. 
The  curing  process  must  also  be  studied  and  understood  in 
order  to  bring  out  the  best  qualities  of  our  own  cotton.  By  this 
method  the  individual  filaments  become  straighter  and  a staple  of 
apparently  better  length  is  obtained.  In  order  that  each  Hawaiian 
grower  may  experiment  in  producing  a cotton  of  higher  merit, 
Mr.  Wdcox  advised  the  possession  of  at  least  a hand  gin,  by  means 
of  which  seed  selection  may  be  practiced. 
So  far  as  the  yield  per  acre  is  concerned,  Hawaii  has  a tremen 
dous  advantage  over  the  mainland,  and  a production  of  at  least 
double  should  be  obtained.  The  cotton  plant  here  becomes  peren- 
nial and  although  renewed  plantings  would  be  required  at  stated 
intervals,  by  systematic  irrigation  successive  crops  may  be  secured... 
A noteworthy  feature  of  the  industry  is  its  profitable  by- 
products, both  of  which  are  in  large  demand.  The  use  of  the  oil 
is  increasing  rapidly  and  the  meal  forms  one  of  the  best  all  round 
cattle  feeds. 
