397 
5. Unfortunately for the cultivation of the plant producing this 
particular crop, it is very susceptible to disease, and the very humid 
atmosphere prevailing in this country is peculiarly adapted to the 
growth of fungi, and I don’t think l am overstating the case when 
I say that I do not remember having examined a single specimen 
of any species of Gossypium that was entirely free from fungus. 
Now this is an extremely important question and one that must be 
constantly fought in countries with a much drier climate than this 
and where, therefore, the atmospherical conditions are not so con- 
ducive to the growth of fungi. 
6. The damage done by weevils is touched upon in the letter, 
and from what 1 have seen of this and other insects I am convinced 
that they will prove a most formidable barrier to the successful cul- 
tivation of cotton in these States. The risk of danger from both 
these pests may be considerably minimised by cultivating quick- 
growing varieties, 
7. The character ot the soil is another factor of the greatest 
importance — the cotton plant being somewhat particular in this 
respect, while the cultivation should be thorough, the fields being 
prepared much in the same way as for the cultivation of sugar. 
The land must be kept in a high state of cultivation and it is re- 
commended that cattle be kept and fed on the residue of the cotton 
seed from which the oil has been extracted, in which case, the re- 
sultant manure would prove an ideal fertilizer. Mr. Herbert J. 
Webber, physiologist, in charge of the plant-breeding laboratory 
in the Department of Agriculture, U. S. A., recently gave it as his 
opinion that even in the United States it is impossible to greatly 
increase the acreage devoted to cotton, though much could be done 
to increase the yield. 
8. The available labour supply is also a question that must be 
seriously considered, and I don’t think that Mr. BAXEND ale’s sug- 
gestion of growing a variety of cotton that will “ be perpetually 
bearing a few pods at a time ” quite meets the situation. Firstly, 
there would be a large increase in the cost of picking, ginning 
baling etc. ; secondly, a very large increase in the cost of upkeep ; 
and, thirdly, the liability of loss from disease would be enormously 
enhanced. In the case of Sea Island Cotton a return may be ex- 
pected in six to eight months, but if by cultivating a slow-growing 
variety, the planter: must wait, say, two years before getting a 
return equal to that from Sea Island Cotton in the first year, I 
k think we may safely estimate the increased cost under the heading 
of upkeep alone at about 25%. 
9. It will no doubt be readily conceded, that there is a vast field 
open for investigation in the cultivation of this product in the 
Federated Malay States, where hitherto any systematic attempts 
at cultivation are, I believe, entirely unknown. It does not follow, 
of course, that the most, highly prized variety of cotton in one 
country will be the most successful in another, even when the con- 
ditions are to all appearances identical. Assistance might be req- 
