1 Jory, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 113 
We discussed a subject of huge importance in the paper on cheap money. We 
have dealt with wheat, and I do not think the delegates are to be blamed for 
devoting half of an evening to the subject of sugar when we are meeting in a 
city which—and I hope I may not be giving my constituents offence—may be 
called the sugaropolis of Queensland. Then there was the question of 
manures, and now we have just concluded sugar, which is certainly a much 
sweeter subject. There is another matter which I would just like to mention, 
that justice may be done to an officer of the Government whose services we 
estimate at a very high value. I say thisin order that no injustice may be done, 
for I always believe that of all things we should be careful that justice should be 
done by one to the other. J think that, knowing that Dr. Maxwell is an 
expert of Australian repute—I might say of American repute, and I do not 
think I would exaggerate if I said of world-wide repute—knowing also that he 
was in Bundaberg, and was possessed of more information and experience of 
a scientific character in connection with sugar than probably any other person 
in Australia—one might say, why did not Dr. Maxwell come here and give the 
benefit of his experience ? I believe the reason is this, and I venture to believe 
you will ieee of it: The sugar question is an agricultural question, which 
is one of the reasons why it has been put forward. It isa commercial question ; 
it is an economic question; and in certain respects it may be called a social 
question. It has been dealt with by several speakers from that point. Another 
thing, it is distinctly a party and a political question, and one which is being 
dealt with all over the whole wide Commonwealth of Australia. If Dr. Max- 
well is going to have that influence which I think a man of his value and high 
attainments deserves, he is perfectly right in keeping himself clear of any 
question which may be considered political. Therefore, I believe, that Dr. Max- 
well’s conduct has been not only that of a clever scientific man, but also that of 
a man of discretion who knows when to speak and when to be silent. 
(Applause.) I am glad to see that his action receives the approbation of this 
meeting. 
Mr. Robert's paper, on the motion of Mr. Limevs (Currajong), was then 
referred to the Committee of Resolutions. 
Mr. HE. Griuuery, of the Acclimatisation Society, Brisbane, then read the 
following paper on— 
COTTON. 
As lately some little attention has been paid to the subject of cotton, especially 
in the Queensland Agricultural Journal, articles having appeared by the editor, Mr. 
A.J. Boyd, and Mr. D. Jones, of the Department of Agriculture, who for a number of 
years have been enthusiasts in the matter, [ thought I might as well give this Confer- 
ence what little information I have on the subject, especially as I propose to treat the 
subject from an entirely different point of view from the writers mentioned. 
I do not purpose telling you how to grow cotton, as I expect most of you know a 
great deal more than I do on the subject, but I hope to show you that under certain 
conditions there may be a future before cotton in Queensland. 
Cotton has been grown in Queensland, with intervals, for the last forty years, as 
in 1860 there were 14 acres under cultivation; in 1861 there were 395 acres; remain- 
ing stationary until 1866, when 2,884 was the acreage, rising rapidly until 1869, 
when the maximum of 14,684 acres was reached, falling to 4,149 in 1874, until, 
in 1878, only 37 acres was the total. In these early days cotton cultivation 
was stimulated by the Civil War in America, and consequent high prices, and 
an added stimulus was given in the shape of a Government bonus. When the 
war ceased prices fell, and about the same time, or soon after, the Government 
bonus was withdrawn, and the bottom fell out of the cotton industry in Queensland, 
sharing the fate of most industries that are unduly stimulated by Government help. 
A slight revival took place in 1891, stimulated by the encouragement given by the 
Tpswich Cotton Company. For reasons not necessary to mention here, the cotton 
company closed up, and again the cotton industry was stranded. 1 have endeavoured 
to gain some information as to the returns received by the growers, sending out 
circulars to many who had experience in the early days and in the revival spoken of, 
and I have to thank those gentlemen who so kindly responded to my request for 
information. From these answers 1 gather, taking an average, that the return of 
uplands cotton was 1,000 lb. in the seed, giving 333 Ib. of clean lint per acre. The 
H 
