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. G, a letter was read from Rio
Grande, 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 wool, which it resembles. It is used for
making striped or checked cloth ; the colour 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 qualities of cotton. A letter from
Yanco, Porto 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 tran3part 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 &a 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 ALscow show which sure
passed those exhibited from the Caucasus. Samples
of cotton from Belize, British Honduras, and one
from Natal grown from Egyptian seed, were sub.
witted for examination. Consular reports were re-
ceived from the Foreigneoffice on the cultivation of
cotton in Servia, Rio Grande de Sol, Guatemala,
Z An2lbar. Lima, nouolutu, Port au Tampico
and Jaffa. This is the first year cotton lies been tried
in Scrvia, 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 ono of the merchants had purchased a conside-
rable quantity of land for the purpose of growing
cotton, and having procured labourers from Scotland
he 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 Conseil 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 e yen 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 Z inzibar 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. General 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-
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 acrea in 1864, and 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. Ia 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
years 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 euvin at all seasons throughout the
year, and the yield and quality are 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
2410,0001 b. The crops are healthy, and promise an
abundant yield. The want of capital is a great
drawback ; land is to be had at a low rate, and it
is thought that a company purchasing land and
cultivating cotton in the valley of Same would ob.
twin
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
planting has been established, and 600 quintals

have been produced this year of excellent quality.
Others are commencing, and he is confident that
great progress will be made. Very fine samples
of the cotton have been forwarded. Her Ma.
jesty's Consul-General at Honolulu reports that
no cotton is cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands,
agriculturists being almost entirely devoted to sugar.
A few experiments have been made, the results of
which show that the soil and climate are suited to
the growth of cotton, and it is regretted therefore
that the cultivation on an adequate scale has never
been attempted. Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires
at Port an Prince reports that 9,000 acres were
planted with cotton in Hayti in 1863, and 15,000
acres in 1864, and that the produce which in the
former year was 2,400,0001 b, is expected to be
3,360,0001 b this year. During the last four years
the cultivation has rapidly extended even into dis.
tricts where it was formerly unknown. Some at.
tempts have been made to grow cotton on an eaten.
sivescale ; but as a rule the crop has been furnished
by the peasantry, who plant small fields near their
cottage and obtain the aid of their neighbours when
the cotton is ready for picking. No wages are paid,
but assistance is rendered in return, and in some
oases a moiety of the crop is demanded by the
owners of property in lieu of rent for their land.
Want of labour is complained of, and the noncom.
pletion of the system of artificial irrigation cora•
menced by the Government. Her Majesty's Consul
at Tampico reports that no one in that part of the
country has ever directed his attention to the culti-
vation of cotton, and that the only cotton grown in
Mexico up to the present time is in the department
of Vera Cruz, and on the Rest coast. The soil and
climate of this district are in every way adapted to
its cultivation, and the only drawback which exists
is the difficulty of commanding labour. Her Ma.
jesty's Consul at Jaffa reports that the new crop has
begun to come to market, and that the yield is good.
The price had suddenly fallen 100 per cent., owing
partly to intelligence from Liverpool and Marseilles,
and the belief in some cases that the yield of cot.
ton all over the world will be above the consump
tion, together with the largo quantity on hand.
Nevertheless those who have money have bought
all they could at reduced prices, in the full belief
that cotton would before long advance in value. A
circular was received from the Foreign Office stete
ing that the ratifications of the treaty of commerce
between France and Switzerland have been ex-
changed, and annexing the provisions of the tariff
as regards the duty ou the export of rags from
France. A letter was read, advising the arrival of
samples of cotton from a large district in the Pun-
jab, grown from fresh American seed, from Egyp.
Lion seed, and from the indigenous seed of the dis.
trict. They have been forwarded by the deputy
commissioner of the Goozerat district in the Pun-
jab, who is now in England, and who has made
praiseworthy and successful exertions to extend and
improve the cultivation of cotton in India. He
returns next summer, and intends to renew his
labours. A letter was read stating it to be the in-
tention of the Turkish Government to promote the
extensive use of American seed during the next
sowing season. A grant of seed was made to an
intending emigrant to Queensland, who is about to
devote himself to cotton cultivation in that colony,
which concluded the business.