2 1 8 
pies of the crops of a better kind of cotton. They seem to have been 
chiefly grown in Bandjermassin, where good results were expected 
in the beginning, but which were, however, not realised. 
In Java also trials were made, chiefly with Gossypinm viti folium. 
It was found that the seeds came up, but that a certain caterpillar 
belonging to the “Leaf-rollers” nestled itself in the fruit and des- 
troyed the largest portion of the crop. This induced Government, 
in 1839, to cease further trials. 
The thing was, however, again taken up, when 3 01*4 years.later, 
a certain Mr. VAN Toll, who had managed a cotton plantation in 
Surinam, came to Java in order to start an undertaking in Cheri- 
bon. It was expected that his wide experience would bring about 
better results, and that induced Government to make a contract 
with this gentleman for conducting new trials, for which, seeds 
from Surinam, South Carolina and later from New Orleans were 
sent to him. One bale sent to Holland in 1845, as a result of these 
trials, seems to have been of a very satisfactory quality ; but Mr. 
VAN Toll found the crop out of all proportions to the cost and 
trouble connected therewith, so that in 1847 he asked for and ob- 
tained the revocation of the agreement * 
At about the same time Government took up again, at the request 
of the mother countries and individual persons, trials with foreign 
varieties of cotton in the envirous, and chose therefore Talembang, 
the land of the cotton, where the production of the cotton is esti- 
mated at 30,000 pikuls annually. If the new kinds could be grown 
an v where, then it would be certain in this case as the inhabitants 
were acquainted with cotton-growing. The native cotton was some- 
what short and badly gathered and prepared. It was hoped to 
bring about a change in this by the importation of new and better 
kind: of cotton. , 
The Netherlands Trading Society being of opinion, that by the 
* Mr. L. 1 . van Toll came to Java in 1840, with a recommendation from the Mi- 
nister of Colonies, as specially experienced in the culture and preparation of cotton 
in the West Indian manner. , . , 
Mr. van Toll made an investigation-tour over Java, at Government costs, which 
resulted in his becoming acquainted with the kinds of soil and the climate, as well as 
with the disappointments, which were met with in the growing of foreign kinds ot 
cotton, wherefore he hesitated to start an undertaking on his own account ana risk. 
He therefore wished preferably to open a sugar plantation. He was however very 
willing on a salary and travelling allowances, provided he was allowed a sugar con- 
tact to make small trials in the parts of Java, which were most suitable for cotton 
culture. A contract was made with Mr. van Toll for the cultivating of sugar and 
cotton in Kadipatten in the residency Cheribon, and that, with an advance of /80, 000 
without interests. Not much came of this affair, for on the 14th March, 1043, the 
Government declared the agreement null and void. 
The sugar industry was given over to Baron Leyssius, and the cultivation of cotton 
was contracted for with Mr. van Toll. 
The contract for cotton was nullified in the year 1847, on the request of the con- 
tractor after he had spent from 4 to 5 thousand guilders on the affair, without having 
had the slightest advantage. . , ... , 
The Director of Cultivation remarks on that, that the appearance of this e . pert 
in lava has not brought the cultivation of cotton for the foreign markets, one step for- 
ward but has only served to verify that which undertakings of former years have 
already clearly shewn namely that the nature of the soil and the climate of this 
island are not suitable for the cultivation of foreign cotton on a large scale. 
The Director of Cqltivation wrote to the Government in 1856 to that effect . 
