1 May, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 3798 
experience of using Indian cotton at the Ipswich mills fully bears out this 
opinion. For the finer class of goods, our cotton will always have the preference 
of the manufacturer. The Egyptian cotton also will not, in my opinion, come in 
as a factor in competition. The staple of the Egyptian variety, being longer 
than that of our upland varieties, commands too high a price to be profitably 
used for the manufacture of the ordinary class of cotton fabrics. This staple 
is more in demand for yarns and thread, &c.—manufactures mostly carried on 
in the European countries, in England and America. Taking these facts into 
consideration, we have a prospect of an almost unlimited market for raw cotton 
in Japan and China. Japan now imports about £500,000 worth of raw cotton 
» annually to supply her cotton-mills. As cotton-spinning in that country is an 
ever-expanding industry, there lies at our door an outlet for our product that 
must, if encouraged, prove very beneficial to our State. I may be pardoned if 
I point out that what I here advance is not in any sense suppositional. Statistics 
prove my contentions as to demand, whilst as to the commercial aspect I need 
only quote the result of a shipment of cotton sent to Japan by the Ipswich 
Company, which realised satisfactory prices, and was highly approved of by the 
spinners. 
; All that is necessary to re-establish cotton-growing in the Southern dis- 
tricts of Queensland is the assurance that the cotton will be bought when 
produced. Were any buyers to offer the farmers the ruling commercial prices 
of from 4 to 5 cents per lb. in the seed, many farmers would engage in the 
culture with profit to themselves. 
The cotton-buyer would have a good margin of profit, not only from the 
values received in the Eastern markets, but from the by-products obtained 
from the expression of the cotton seed. Without looking afield and judging 
by our past knowledge, there is a fair market in Australia for raw cotton. 
Among our customers were many southern merchants who contracted for 
some hundreds of bales; perhaps this demand may have increased by now. 
However, I merely mention this to show that any enterprising merchant 
who would set up the necessary ginning plant need not fear any possi- 
bility of the cotton being left on his hands. The question may be asked: 
Why have I not mentioned the English and Continental markets in my 
suggestions? My reason, based upon actual experience, is that for the 
ordinary quality of upland cotton better prices can be obtained in Japan 
than in Liverpool. In Liverpool we are in competition with the low- 
freighted cotton from the States ; while. in J aban we are still in competition 
with the States, although on better terms as to freight, which, in this instance, 
we provedtoouradvantage. Should we ever succeed indeveloping a trade in the 
export of the Sea Island and Egyptian varieties of cotton, then we must look 
further afield for our markets. J'hese varieties of cotton thus far have, unfor- 
tunately, not come up to expectation when grown in the Southern part of this 
State. The fibre is all that is expected, but the yield and somewhat greater 
cost of packing have, so far, caused a preference for the short-staple varieties. 
There is no reason to doubt that ultimately our experience may prove as satis- 
factory as the Americans have found it; for while, until recent years, the 
cultivation of the Egyptian cotton was looked upon as unsatisfactory, they have 
during the last few years succeeded in getting a variety of Egyptian cotton to 
grow which, according to their statements, is the means of saving one million 
sterling which otherwise would have left the country to buy the longer staple » 
Egyptian variety. Perhaps our Acclimatisation Society may prove this for 
Queensland. Judging from the habit and promise of the variety at Bowen Park, 
the society have every reason to hope that they have a long-staple cotton that 
may be the article long wished for. 
Onefeature of the Bowen Park experiments deserves prominent attention, 
and that is the success obtained in combating the worst of pests affecting the 
cotton shrub—viz., the boll worm. This foe to the plant in years past was the 
cause of considerable loss to our growers. Attacking the pods, as it does 
at all stages of the growth, it destroys practically all that it succeeds in 
