figures 
11. In addition to the fact that plants may he seen in many parts of these States 
apparently thriving in a moist climate, I would draw attention to the followin 
representing the exports of the raw cotton from Java- — 
97/98 
98/99 
c 
00 
02/0 b 
01 
19 
4,274,941 kilogrammes 
5,083,094 
13,952,646 
3,316,900 
6,576,667 
[These figures do not include Kapok (Eriodendron Anfractuosum) 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 in the export. 
12. 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 practical native 
cultivators with previous experience of this form of cultivation, 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 cotton they suggested) and one 
of them would go to Java and bring over seeds of the best variety, which they called 4 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— 4 Kala-kala Palembang,’ and 
4 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 rubber 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 h\d. to 7 cl. per lb., while ordinary prices at Liverpool were averaging about 6d. a lb. 
(Prices at present average about 7d. a lb.) The Kala-kala seed was valued at £7 a ton—a 
very high figure for cotton seed. The brokers reported that the cotton was 44 a very valuable 
variety owing to its 4 harsh ’ 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 44 Kapas Blanda ” referred to by the Javanese was an imported 
variety of the Sea Island cotton-producing plant (G. Barbadense). This plant, though 
deciduous, is, I believe, treated as if it was so and crops in the method described by the 
Javanese. In spite of the favour with which the “Kapas Blanda” is viewed by these men, I 
should not be inclined to abandon “Kala-kala” in favour of the imported variety unless a 
series of experiments proved the latter had the better commercial prospects. It must be 
remembered that there is a very great advantage as regards labour in having to deal with 
crops that do not suddenly necessitate a large temporary addition to the labour force on an 
estate. The cost of engaging one man for 1,600 days is ordinarily much less than the cost of 
engaging 1,000 men for one day. And if throughout the Federated Malay States all the 
planters wanted this sudden increase in their labour force simultaneously, the possible result 
would be that the planters in their attempts to attract the available “floating” labour would 
have to pay such prices as would seriously affect the prospects of their enterprise. In cotton- 
growing countries it would seem that during the “picking season” men, women and children, 
who at other times are unable to obtain a wage, are eagerly engaged at task-work rates which 
make their earnings, during the time they are employed, considerably higher than the normal 
wages of a first class labourer for the same length of time. Even disregarding the question 
of cost, the nature of our population would seem to offer an overwhelming obstacle to the 
general introduction of a form of cultivation the success of which must to a great extent 
depend on the possibility of planters being able to engage simultaneously a large supply of 
44 casual ” labour. 
15. In regard to the general question of the desirability of a dry climate for growing cot¬ 
ton, it would appear that in the United States a very wet season is almost as much feared by 
the cotton growers as is a drought. Exceptionally wet weather is stated to produce weeds and 
tends to make the plant run to wood rather than crop. It seems to me to be possible to 
believe that even in the wettest years there is generally sufficient sunshine here to mature a 
crop of cotton. 1 know nothing of the climate of the cotton-growing districts of the United 
States, but would suggest that there is possibly an unusual lack of sunshine during the wet 
summers and that every hour of sunshine is of great importance when a plant has to bear 
fruit either ou a certain date or not at all. A fter the opening of the boll there is undoubtedly 
some danger of rain discolouring the cotton if left exposed to the weather. Yet I have now in 
my possession some beautifully clean white cotton that was purposely allowed to remain on 
the shrub during three days of heavy rain while the boll was open. When considering these 
3 
sources of possible disappointment it is only reasonable to bear in mind that neither droughts 
nor gales (gales strip the shrubs of blossoms), which frequently cause immense losses to cotton 
growers in the United States, are likely ever to cause serious loss to planters in the Federated 
Malay States. 
16. It is not my intention to endeavour to prove that cotton growing would necessarily 
prove a highly remunerative from of cultivation. As an example of troubles that might 
threaten its success, I would mention that from personal observation I am inclined to believe 
that Kala-kala is particularly liable to damage from weevils. The separation of the cotton 
from the seed cannot in such cases be done by gins and the cost of manual separation would 
add enormously to the cost of production. There may also be — and in fact there probably 
are—other difficulties which cannot now he foreseen. As an example of difficulties that are 
practically impossible to foretell, I would mention that the one, so far, unsurmountable 
obstacle to the success of the ramie trade is the fact that the fibre is too long. To say of a 
fibre that it is too long is tantamount to saying it is too good. 
17. If, however, I have made out a case for supposing it would be worth the while of 
Government to consider this matter seriously, I would urge that with a view to its doing so, a 
small Committee, chiefly composed of planters, should be requested to visit Java and observe aiid 
record such practical results in regard to cotton cultivation as they consider noteworthy. If 
the report of such a Committee was favourable, the cultivation of cotton as a “catch-crop,” 
or otherwise, should, I think, he encouraged by Government. 
18. Such a Committee should, I would suggest, also try to arrive at some arrangement 
by which Javanese emigration to the Federated Malay States might be encouraged. The 
over-population of Java is yearly causing greater concern to the Government of that Islandand 
for many years every encouragement lias been offered to labourers to leave Java for Dutch 
possessions, which are much in want of coolies. But there is, I understand, a strong feeling 
among the Javanese against emigrating to Sumatra and Borneo. It would seem that the same 
objection does not exist to coming to the Federated Malay States, and if it is demonstrated to 
the Government of Java — as I believe it would be possible to do — that Javanese emigrants do 
not generally become permanent settlers here, it might be possible for us to come to some 
agreement with the Dutch Colonial Government that would be mutually advantageous. 
I have the honour to be, 
Sir, 
Your obedient Servant, 
A. S. BAXENDALE. 
