The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-08 00:00:00

Cotton Supply Association.

At the usual meeting of the executive committee,
held on Tuesday, Dec. 6, a letter was read from Rio
Urande, stating that some Egyptian seed sent out
by the association had produced plants 10 or 12 feet
high. It is expected this will be found the most
profitable to cultivate, but other experiments are in
progress, the results of which will be communicated.
Some brown cotton grown in the district, it is

thought; might be made available for mixing with
Vacuna woo!, which it resembles. It is used for
making striped or checked cloth ; the oolour is fast,
and never changes. A letter was received from
Lima, requesting Egyptian, Sea Island, and Up-

land seed, and stating that great:solicitude is felt to

produce the best qullities of cotton, A letter from
Vanco, Purto Rico, describes the plantations as pre.

senting a satisfactory appearance, although some
injury has been sustained from rains and the

ravages of a worm. A letter was read from the
President of the Turk's Islands, accompanying four

specimens of cotton grown at East Caicos, and re•
porting that increased facilities of tramport are not
afforded by the establishment of steam communica-
tion by the West India and Pacific line of steamers
between the colony and Liverpool. A sample of
cotton was received, grown from Sea Island seed in
the Crimea by a landed proprietor who has been
very successful in his efforts to cultivate cotton.

He sent samples to the Moscow show which sur,.
passed thou) exhibited from the CUICaStI9. Samples
of cotton from Buliz?, British Honduras, and one
from Natal grown from Egyptian seed, were sub-

witted for examination, Consular reports were re

ceiced from the Foreign office on the cultivation of
cotton in Servia, Rio Grande de Sol, Guatemala,
Z anzibar,Lima, Honolulu, Port au Prince, Tampico
and Jaffa. This is the first year cotton has been tried
in Servia, and, as this summer is represented

to have been the coldest and wettest known
during the last 20 years, it is difficult to decide with-

out further experiments whether cotton will succeed
or not. The variableness of the climate is a serious
drawback. The largest and most promising crop on
an island on the Bulgarian frontier was destroyed
by a flood. From Rio Grande de Sul it is reported
that one of the merchants had purchased a conside-
rable quantity of land for the purpose of growing
cotton, and having procured labourers from Scotland
ho is determined to try the experiment, and seems
likely to succeed. The result of his efforts will in
due time be communicated. Her Majesty's Consul at
Guatemala has not yet been successful in obtaining

the required information respecting the cultivation
of cotton, but he reports that it is general in all the
republics of Guatemala, and even in all Central Ame-
rica. The plant thrives well in all parts, and up to
the present time no fears have been entertained of
any injury to the crops; but, on the contrary, an
abundant harvest is expected, and of good quality.
In Zanzibar a little cotton of a good description is
grown to the north, and European influence has
been exerted to obtain a supply thence, but East
Africa, north at least of the Portuguese possessions,
has never, been a cotton producing country, and
there is but little prospect of any material change
occurring. Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires and
Consul.Ueneral at Lima, in forwarding reports from
official and private parties, states that there is no
doubt that Peru offers great natural facilities for the
cultivation of most excellent cotton, which would
become a most important article of export if the
cotton growers had access to capital to enable them
to procure the requisite labour. The climate is be-
nignant for a tropical country, and the absence of
rain and heavy showers in many parts is also a spe-
c cial recommendation. Irrigation is practicable, and
during the winter months there are fine mists that
freshen and promote vegetable growth. In the pro-
province of Ica there were 4,800 acres planted in
1863, and 24,000 acres in 1864, ani the produce
which in the former years was 18,000 quintals, of
100 lb. Spanish each, is expected this year to amount
to 90,000 quintals ; everything indicates a larger
increase next year. There is an immense field in
this province for cotton cultivation, and the Peru-
vian Government would do well to encourage
emigration, and to give grants of new lands at a
reasonable and advantageous rate, In the depart-
ment of Piura every one owning land has been in-
duced to grow cotton in preference to anything
else, and there will doubtless be a considerable
increase. The Georgia seed, introduced a couple of
Tears ago by an English gentleman owning a cot.
ton estate, irrigated by steam pumps, has proved
much less subject to blights than the native plants.
It yields a crop in less time, and will no doubt be
generally adopted throughout the province. The
cotton has been sown at all seasons throughout the
year, and the yield and quality aro found to be in.
variably the same. The Vice. Consul at Erica reports
that an increased area has been planted with cotton
in the valleys in the department of Moquegua,
Peru, and that the produce which in 1863 was
120,0001 b. will, it is estimated, this year be
240,0001 b. The crops are healthy, and promise an
abundant yield. The want of, capital in a groat
drawback ; land is to b‘i had at a low rate, and it
is thought that a company purchasing land and
cultivating cotton in the valley of Sama would ob-
tain ample returns. On the estate of San Jacinto,
valley of Napena, province of Santa, 320 acres have
been planted, and the produce is expected to be
70,0001 b. of cotton, On an estate in Canete cotton
has planting been established, and 600
quintals