SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
Cotton Growing in Australia. 
~ Revival of Interest. 
Introductory.—Every effort is now being made in Queensland to 
revive interest in the cotton-growing industry. From a variety of 
causes, which it is not necessary to traverse in detail, the industry has 
had its ups and downs, and although, as a rule, the acreage has 
remained small, authorities on sub-tropical agriculture feel confident 
that not only in this State, but in other portions of the Common- 
wealth, cotton-growing is capable of considerable extension upon a 
commercial basis. 
As far back as 1858 the establishment of the industry was strongly 
advocated by Dr. Lang, who had made successful attempts to cultivate 
cotton in New South Wales. In 1861, upon the outbreak of civil war 
in North America, prices rose to a high figure, and Queensland was , 
able to supply relatively large quantities of the world’s require- 
ments. Prices, however, fell rapidly at the conclusion of the war, 
and Queensland’s activities dwindled in consequence. The early 
eighties saw a renewal of effort, which was marked by the formation 
of the Ipswich Cotton Company and the manufacture in Australia ‘of 
cotton goods. The mill eventually passed into the hands of Joyce 
Brothers. The industry, however, again declined, but was carried 
on in a small way by a few growers. In 1902, when Australia was 
in the grip of a particularly bad drought, the Queensland Government, 
through the Department of Agriculture, in order to encourage the cul- 
tivation of cotton, not only for the lint, but also as a fodder crop for 
emergency purposes, undertook to supply seed, receive the crop, gin 
and sell it on the owners’ account, and to make an advance when the 
raw cotton was received into the store. The acreage again began to 
extend. As the result of war conditions, the net return to the grower 
has been a8 much as 4d. per lb., which, on a yield of 1,000 Ibs. per acre, 
is equivalent to nearly £17 per acre. 
The principal economic consideration was, of course, the price 
obtainable. There was, however, another aspect which is important 
‘and interesting. In the early days a great proportion of the seed 
which was cultivated was of the Sea Island cotton, but recently Upland 
merican cotton was introduced, and produces almost the whole of 
the lint placed on the market. It is regarded as excellent in quality. 
Suitability of varieties must be determined before permanent and 
satisfactory progress can be made. 
In its present campaign, the Queensland Department of Agri- 
culture does not favour a return to the plantation or large area 
system, and strongly urges the cultivation of a few acres on a farm 
as a subsidiary crop. Its reason for so doing is twofold. In the 
first place, the Kanaka labour that was available in the plantation 
period is not now to be obtained; and in the second place, a grower 
can handle, say, 10 or 12 acres without recourse to additional and 
temporary assistance. Later, if the cultivation of cotton ‘becomes 
an established industry, the areas would naturally be enlarged in pro- 
portion to the profits derived. 
356 
