SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
type of mechanical cotton picker, inasmuch as tractable varieties alone 
of cotton can be picked. Mr. Daniel Jones considers that the tractable 
type can be grown at the same value as the intractable type, and that 
the quality is merely a question of cultivation and seed. ‘To this end, 
therefore, he has secured certain varieties from various places in 
Queensland, and they are being cultivated near Brisbane. A. practical 
test of the picker should, therefore, be possible during the next autumn. 
In addition to the seed already introduced into Queensland, the 
Institute has made arrangements for the importation of seed from the 
United States. The request sent to the Bureau of Agriculture was for 
the high commercial varieties grown in localities whose climate is 
similar to that of Queensland, and steps have been taken to have all 
imported seed thoroughly fumigated to prevent the introduction of 
pests. Upon its arrival the seed will be treated at the Department of 
Agriculture, Brisbane, and will be grown under the supervision of 
officers of that Department. 
_ In view of the recommendations of the Queensland Committee, the 
Executive Committee gave close consideration to the question of a 
guaranteed price for a number of years. The conclusion arrived at was 
that the Commonwealth Government should be recommended to guar- 
antee the grower 4d. per lb. for seed cotton for the crop to be harvested 
in 1920, and the price for succeeding years to be adjusted according to 
the world’s price and to local requirements. At the present time the 
Liverpool price for ginned cotton is 1s. 6d. per lb., and as it takes 3 lbs. 
of cotton in the seed to make 1b. of ginned cotton, it was considered 
that the price agreed upon, while offering profitable returns to the 
grower, would not commit the Government to any great financial risk. 
It is officially estimated that an average crop of cotton in Queensland 
should produce 1,000 lbs. per acre, which would represent, at 4d. per lb., 
a gross return of £16 13s. 4d. per acre. Allowing £5 per acre for 
working expenses (planting and cultivation £2, and harvesting £3), the 
net return would be £11 13s. 4d. With the prospect of securing such 
prices, the Department of Agriculture anticipates a considerable exten- 
‘sion of the acreage for this year, and a general stimulation of the 
industry. 
“Tf industry wants men of scientific ability who have taken a 
College course extending over four or five years, it must be prepared 
to pay for them. To offer salaries of £100 to £150 a year with very 
indefinite prospects of future advancement is useless. The salaries and 
prospects of advancement must be such as to induce able young men 
to continue their education up to the age of 22 or 23 and to persuade © 
poor parents to bear the additional burden involved.” 
— Science Progress. 
