378 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 May, 1902. 
the farmers abandoned the growth of this plant it was owing to causes not so 
much connected with the cultivation as with the commercial side of the 
question. Given the ordinary commercial conditions that obtain between 
farmer and merchant, the position from the growers’ standpoint is at once seen 
to be favourable. 
What we now require to re-establish this industry is the presence in our 
midst of cotton-brokers, in the same sense as we now have wool and wheat 
buyers. 
; It is beyond dispute that the quality of cotton we grow here is equal to 
any grown elsewhere. Compare our upland or short-staple variety with that so 
largely grown in India, and our article stands in every respect far in advance of 
the Indian fibre. 
In comparison with the best upland American varieties, it well holds its 
own. 
The Sea Island cotton, judging by the specimens in evidence at the Bowen 
Park grounds, stands prominent for length of staple, colour, and strength of 
fibre. 
The Egyptian varieties, so far, are not enough advanced to judge of their 
merits. 
On the whoie, there is every reason to believe that in some regions of our 
State these different varieties will soon assert their value if given ordinarily 
fair treatment. In our Southern districts, no doubt, the upland cotton will, as 
heretofore, prove itself better adapted to our climatic conditions (although its 
staple is shorter) than the varieties already named, and consequently a lower 
value is attached to the fibre. Still, the more abundant yield compensates for 
the deficiency in length of staple. Regarding this plot of cotton grown at the 
Acclimatisation grounds this season, the most remarkable feature of the crop is 
the drought-resisting qualities in evidence. While everything in the gardens 
has been suffering from the absence of rain, this cotton plot, consisting of 
various upland Sea Island and Egyptian sorts, has endured the trying season 
wonderfully well. Naturally, the growth has not been so robust and the yield 
will not be so great as in a propitious season, yet the general result is one 
highly satisfactory, more particularly in demonstrating that the crop can stand 
drought when other crops prove failures. 
The outlook as regards demand for raw cotton is at the present time a 
most favourable one for Queenslanders. The Eastern question, in other than 
its political aspect, is one that must in the course of time materially affect 
Australian industries. Cotton has now for some years past maintained firm 
prices, and in America the rise in value has been remarkable in comparison 
with ruling prices some years since. The following quotation from an 
American paper gives the then local price. This, compared with the price paid 
to farmers for cotton in the seed (138s. 6d. per ewt. by the Ipswich Cotton Mill), 
shows a much better prospect for the grower :—‘“ Cotton continues to come in, 
and those receiving same are kept busy. Saturday the rush was almost equal 
to that of a week previous. Giles and Co. bought off of wagons something 
over 12,000 lb., to say nothing of what he bought at the different stations 
and which came to town in cars. Geo. K. Robinson’s purchases footed u 
70,000 lb., of which two cars came from Oxford and one from Belleview, an 
went direct to Gainesville for ginning. Mr. Fausett also had a nice trade. 
The price, including Saturday, was 5 cents (23d.) alb. It was since dropped 
to 43-4 cents (24d.), while lint is only quoted at 18 cents (9d.) a lb.” —¥la. 
Baptist Witness. Thus the hardening of American prices naturally affects the 
world’s markets. The unprecedented manufacturing activity now characteristic 
of American home industries is responsible for the consumption of a great 
portion of the cotton crop grown in the States. This leaves the question of 
supply of raw cotton, necessary to keep the huge mills of Japan, China, and 
India supplied, a matter to be shared between this country, Egypt, and India. 
The peculiar nature of Indian cotton is the shortness of the staple, which 
for that reason will not enable it to compete with ours in quality. Our 
