1 Juny, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 117 
No. 4 gives you an example of uplands cotton, whilst No. 5 gives a drawing of 
the new hybrid between “Klondyke’”’ and sea island. You will notice a great improve- 
ment on Klondkye—greater length of staple with free seed. As this hybrid has but 
yery recently been produced its commercial value is not known, but in all probability 
it is of great value. In No. 6 I give an illustration of Queensland uplands cotton, 
which again, as in the sea island variety, shows that there is ample room for improve- 
ment by either the process of selection or hybridisation. Ido not think any attempt 
has been made in Queensland t) improve the quality of cotton in any direction, but I 
am convinced that it will be only by the application of the two principles advocated, 
either singly or together, that we can hope to reintroduce the cotton industry. I may 
mention incidentally that the society I have the honour to represent at this Conference 
has decided to attempt this important work ; that they will be successful in producing 
a variety which will give a good return to the acre as well as an improved quality of 
lint is warranted by the success obtained in other countries, and when we Jook round 
and remember how nearly everything now grown has been improved, how the apple of 
our days is descended from the crab, how the cabbage of 3) 1b. weight is the result of 
“selection ” during centuries from plants that weighed not more than a few ounces, 
how wheat has been improved, how beet sugar has trebled its wercentage of sugar. 
surely we may expect the same improvement can be made in cotton, and before many 
years I hope to see Queensland cotton quoted on the European market—not as a 
variety of uplands or sea island, but as a distinct variety that has heen evolved by the 
skill and cleverness of our farmers, and if it should happen that the Queensland 
extension Society should lead the way, there is still plenty of room for others to 
ollow. 
There is just a possibility that the Commonwealth Parliament may adopt a 
policy of protection, and that the duties on cottun goods may be sufficiently high to 
encourage the manufacture of such goods, which would be a great encouragement to 
the production of cotton, although in that case the cost of living and consequent cost 
