Co -jy letter +, roir. Mr H, IT. Ri dley 
B otai i i o Garde ns, S i ngap ore 
B O'tan i c Gar d ens, S i ngap ore 
S e -)ternb e r 7 th 1 9 OS 
Dear Mr Treadier, 
I am rather cl oubtlul about cotton in 
% 
our very wet region. We have grown it at Malacca and got 
a lair staple,and the Malays used to grow it in Muar. 
lo begin with much ox* our soil is bad for such a greedy 
nlant. then \:c have no dry season in which to collect 
our crops. Cotton here driiits all the year round 
entailing constant picking of* small quantities instead 
as in Brazil,the whole crop being gathered en masse 
it the coolies and other villagers in one or two months. 
This mates the labour very expensive, 
the rain too spoils the cotton. 
'/ I* 
I oelieve there was a large plantation on Chasseriau 
4 
Estate here,years ago,but it ms gone before 1 came. 
1 Shoul '' ] like ' b0 3eethe tried again in theF.M.S. 
there the soil is better. 
Yours 
yVg-V: (signed)H. ”, Ridley. 
\ 
f33|bo 
i /g 
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Si 
jtr ■ 2 
T '-U~~ 
