The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-23 00:00:00

COTTO;V FROM THE RIVER PLATE.

The following letter on the subject of the culti-
vation of cotton on the land adjoining the River
Plate, will be read with interest; it is addressed to
the president of the Manchester Commercial
Association :

Buenos Ayres, October 1, 1853.
Sir,—Observing from some further report, published in
the Manchester newspapers, upon samples of cotton sent
from the River Plate, that an increasing interest is felt as to
the probability of these countries becoming a source from
which more considerable supplies may be obtained, I think
it advisable not to delay longer in sending an account of
the principal points of information I have so far been able
to obtain on this subject; first remarking that the letters
kindly furnished to me from the influence of the association,
will, I trust, be productive of great advantages. The un-
settled state of politics that prevailed on my arrival here,
prevented my being able to avail myself of:the offers of assist-
ance made by Mr. Gore and Mr. Hunt, nor was a journey
to the interior provinces then practicable. From Paraguay,
fortunately, General Lopez, son of the president of tint
country, was passing through this city, on a visit to Europe ;
enabling me to be presented to him by Sir Charles Hotham,
who has rendered me every assistance and given me more
valuable information as to that country. That territory
appearing to hold forth more prospect of success in the
cultivation of cotton, I have been induced to send up there
a gentleman possessing the requisite talent for the prosecu-
tion of this inquiry; that, by devoting more time thereto
he may be enabled to hand an accurate report as to the
facilities that may be there found. In this he will be
much assisted by the valuable letters of introduction
obtained through Sir Charles Hotham from General
Lopez, to the Governor of Paraguay. Time has not yet
allowed of my receiving any news of their arrival, so I shall
be unable to hand any report this opportunity. Even here,
however, I would observe, that much more attention is being
attached to the country of Paraguay, as a rich field of enter-
prise, and as a pioneer to what we hope may be continued
efforts. A steamer started from this port yesterday to that
destination, conveying a company recently arrived from the
United States, said to be well supported, consisting of
several directors, and conveying with them machines for the
cultivation and cleaning of cotton, tobacco, sugar, and rice :
saw mills, for the making available for export of the val-
uable wood that there so abounds ; and other machines,
cuitabla for the development of Its reaURITCS. it they are
once enabled to establish a footing there, and especially if
the projects of steam navigation up our interior rivers is
accomplished, great results may attend these primary efforts.
Some of the interior provinces of this confederation have
been long said to be most suitable for the cultivation of
cotton, and a sample pronounced to be of very fine quality,
from one of them (Tucuman), was last year exhibited in
Manchester. I have forwarded, per steamer, another sample
from the neighbouring province of Catamarca, whose lands
are reported as being capable of producing a much superior
article to any other of these states. I consider, however,
that a great difficulty will exist in the development of this
cultivation in any of these interior provinces, from the long
land carriage required to bring it to an exterior market.
The cost of the best qualities there as plucked, say with seed,
is 7 to 8 res. per arroba, if cleaned up there, as must be to
give the least hope of successful competition, it is calculated
that the yield would give about 25 per cent, of gross, thus
placing the cost of an arroba or 251 b. at an average of 30
res. ; expenses of cleaning would be 2 res. ; carriage to
Buenos Ayres, per arroba, 6 res. ; total, 38 res. ; which taken
at to-day's rate of exchange, would net per lb., 8 I -sd. In
Catamarca the cotton tree has been cultivated regularly, but
attention never having been paid to it as an article of export,
the production has never increased. It is a perennial plant,
sown in spring, and yielding the same year. It grows
about 4ft. to sft. high. In the winter it is cut down; but
the following spring it shoots up for another year's yield.
No great cai e is paid to it till the time of gathering the
pod, when it is regularly plucked. The Paraguay and Cor-
rientes plants are of the same class. The quality of the
Corrientes cotton has so far been much inferior. It is, how-
ever, in the same latitude, and the soil is represented as
being equally fertile, and from its geological position that
province would seem to be the most preferable. The great
drawback to the extension of this cultivation will be the
want of labour : the population of Catamarca is not more
than 40,000 ; that of Tucuman may be estimated at 50,000.
But even so, there are so many other articles of production
of great value, and requiring little labour, as tobacco, sugar,
&c., that it will be difficult to obtain sufficient hands' for the
plucking and cleaning unless expressly imported. The re-
quirements of the native population are few, and their
ambition soon satisfied. It is, therefore, almost impossible
to get them to labour for more than their actual wants.
That these countries, however, present many facilities and
advantages for the extension of this cultivation, cannot be
doubted ; and equally so that capital, properly laid out,
would, with care and energy, give every prospect of ample
profit. But the commencement of this, as of all other un-
dertakings, requires to be followed up with the greatest
energy, and under the pu.sonal superintendence of a prac-
tical and interested party. As soon, however, as I obtain
the reports from Corrientes and Paraguay, I purpose having
the pleasure of submitting the same to your notice, and at
the same time offering a few remarks as to what may appear
to be the best method of practically carrying out this culti-
vation; to secure to it the most probable chance of success.
—I remain, sir, your most obedient servant,
J. Aspinall Turner, Esq., President of the W DRABBER.
Manchester Commercial Association.