THE 
AGf^ICUliTUJ^flb JWflGAZIflE. 
COLOMBO. 
yielded as a Supplement Monthly to the " TROPICAL AQIUCULTUBIST" 
April 
The following pages include the Contents of the Agricullural Maga-dne for 
Vol. XV.] 
APRIL, 1904. 
[No. 10. 
CARAVONICA COTTON 
HE most important point to 
be settled in regard to the 
cultivation of cotton is what 
variety to select. 
The Ceylon Observer of the 
2Ist March quotes Sir William 
Mitchell as stating that the 
American (New Orleans) and Egyptian varieties 
were proved, by experiments carried out 16 years 
ago, to be the best suited to the Island, If this 
is the case, very valuable information has been 
secured. But we doubt whether the experiments 
were sufficiently exhaustive to finally settle the 
important question of what varieties we should 
select for cultivation. 0£ late the experiment 
of evolving a variety possessing specially desired 
properties has been tried by means of hybridisation, 
and the tests have in many cases been attended 
with remarkable success. Not the least noteworthy 
of such experiments have been those of Dr. D. 
Thomatis, of Queensland, who has undoubtedly 
secured excellent result?. 
Dr. Thoma'is got his special cotton by crossing 
two of the favourite Sea I^land varieties — one 
from Mexico (a true Gossypium barbadense), the 
other from the valley of the Upper Amazon near 
the Peruvian boundary : the Mexican variety 
being selected for its length, fineness and gloss 
and the Amazonian for strength and length. 
From a letter written by the Dr. Thomatis we 
learn that the experts of the new "British Cotton 
Growing Association" pronounced Caravonica to be 
of " long, strong and regular staple, though rather 
lacking in fineness," and of all the cottons collected 
from all parts of the Empire, it was adjudged the 
most vaUinble, surpassing even a special variety 
crossed by Dr. Monis, and called by hira "Sandy 
Lane," whose value was fully '25% less than Cara- 
vonica, the price of which is said to be 9d. per 
lb. ginned. Messrs. Allison & Co., of Liverpool, 
have expressed the opinion that tlie new variety 
is " really excellent, and opens a grand future in 
cotton culture," The Agricultural Minister of 
France declared it "equal to wool, and thereforg 
most valuable." The Associated Cotton spinners of 
Italy are quoted as saying that it was " excellent in 
every respect, ar.d better than the best of American 
cottons," and backing their order by giving Dr. 
Thomatis an order for 6,000 bales at 8.4d, per lb., or 
if that was not sufficiently good, allowing him to 
submit bis own price delivered at Genoa. The 
Ministers of Agriculture in Germany and Hungary 
are reported to be enthusiastic on the new variety, 
and are prepared to take all the cotton they 
can get. Even the Brazilians, from whence the 
parents of the new variety came, are eager to 
embark on its cultivation. In the Colony of 
Queensland itself the Governor has given much 
sympathy and encouragement to Dr. Thomatis, 
So much for the favourable opinions which, 
according to the " creator " of the new variety, 
have been passed on "Caravonica" cotton. But 
our readers ' \'\ ill no doubt be anxious to know 
something of the character of the plant itself. 
The cotton is described as the product of big 
trees, very prolific, with large bolls (70 to the 
pound), of which 2%^ per cent is clean liut and 
l\h per cent seeds, which are black and per- 
fectly clear of floss. Each tree, when two years 
old, is said to bear about 400 bolls on an average, 
and there are about 800 trees to the acre (7-^ 
feet apart), so that an acre w ill give over half 
a ton of ginned cotton. Dr. Thomatis is sanguine 
that he can sell this cotton at 9d. per lb., or 
even higher, besides the value of the oil from 
the seed. He reckons on an average a gross in- 
come of £40 and a net income of £30 per acre. 
It is said that while the crop in Queensland is 
about 400 lbs. lint per acre (at 6d.), the Caravonica 
will give over 1,200 lbs. and at a higher price. 
All this is certainly very " rosy," and is cal- 
culated to create some stir among those who 
are thinking of embarking on cotton culture, but; 
the new plant must receive a thorough trial before 
its suitablity for local cultivation can be assured ; 
and it is with this object that we have secured 
a small lot of seeds for trial. From the character 
of the plant and the quality of its produce as 
described by Dr. Thomatis, we are inclined to 
think that it is likely to suit us, and, therefore, 
that it is well worth our time and trouble to test 
the plant under local conditions and environments, 
