347 
draw attention to the following 
the raw cotton from Java : — - 
figures representing the exports of 
9-/98 
98/99 
99/00 
00/01 
02/03 
4,274,941 kilogrammes 
5,083,094 
13.952,646 
3,316,900 
6,576,667 
[These figures do not include Kapok ( Eriodendron an/ ractuosum) 
of which form of cotton the average annual exports amount to about 
3,000,000 kilogs.] The great fall in the exports of raw cotton after 
1900 will probably be found to have its origin in an increased local 
demand. The Consul General for the Netherlands in Singapore — 
who was so kind as to supply me with these figures— informed me 
he was not able to offer any information as to this sudden decrease 
n the exports. 
1 2. The declaration that " cotton requires a dry climate ” is 
made. I believe, almost solely by those who have no experience of 
its cultivation. The following quotation from a letter addressed to 
me by Mr. C. E. S. Baxendale discloses the views held by practi- 
cal native cultivators with previous experience of this form of cul- 
tivation, as to the possibility of growing cotton at a profit in these 
States. “ About three and a half years ago a deputation claiming 
to represent 65 Javanese landholders in this district came to see me. 
They asked me to guarantee them a price (15 cents a catty for the 
clean col ton they suggested) and one of them would go to Java and 
bring over seeds of the best variety, which they called ‘ Kapas 
Blanda/ This kind is an annual. The only kind I know here is 
the perennial Kala-kala, but there are two other kinds known to 
my Javanese friends — ■' Kala-kala Palembang/ and ‘ Fardeh.’ Their 
expressed intention was to plant cotton solely, not as a catch-crop 
(I do not see any reason why it should not do well with either rub- 
ber or coconuts) and the fact that many of them had been cotton 
growers in Java and know the soils and conditions of both countries 
was noteworthy. ' The ' Blanda ’ is said to yield one heavy crop, 
while our trees are perpetually yielding a few pods at a time.” 
13. Mr. Cyril Baxendale did not accept this offer, seeing 
that his brokers were unable to guarantee him a future price. They 
expressed their willingness, however, to buy Kala-kala of the same 
quality as that he sent to Liverpool at prices varying (from different 
brokers) from 5 Id. to 7 d. per lb., while ordinary pryres at Liverpool 
were averaging about 6 d. a lb. (Prices at present average about 
yd. a lb.) The Kala-kala seed was valued at £y a ton — a very 
high figure for cotton seed. The brokers reported that the cotton 
was “ a very valuable variety owing to its * harsh 1 fibre, this makes 
it approach" wool in consistency and it is greatly sought after by 
woollen manufacturers to mix with wool.” 
14. I presume that the “ Kapas Blanda " referred toby the 
Javanese was an imported variety of the Sea Island cotton-produc- 
ing plant (G. Barbadense). This plant, though not deciduous, is 
Wl 
