The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-25 00:00:00

bers and very tolerable purity amongst our popuia..
tions. The first effort then was to conquer a solid
basis for the science in the recognition and identifi-
cation of existing types ; and the next, to study the
phenomena presented by living peoples, and from
the changes which are being eff,cted and the cvolu-
tions in progres3 to endeavour to determine Coe
value and 5 ignilie:ltion of the types in our possession
in other words, to eliminate tt.c laws that htve
governed their origin and presided over their
development,
A lively discussion ferowe), in which Mr Crau-
curd, Professor Builr, Dr Hodgkin, Dr Hunt, Mr
Nash, end the President were speskerA.
The new fellows elucted were Viscount Milton and
H. Danby Seymour, Esq., M.P.
Important papers on the discovery of human res,
mains and flint implements near Caithness, by Mr
Lang, Professor Huxley, and Mr John Evans, were
announced for the next meeting, which it was
thought would attract an unusually large audience.

Cotton Supply Association.

At the usual meeting of the Executive Committee,
held on Tuesday, Nov. 22, a letter was read, forward-
ing a pod of cotton recently pluced at Pompeii, and
stating that the writer, when at Naples about a
month ago, was much gratified to find sa large an
area in the neighbourhood under ootton cultivation.
He thinks gins are needed as he saw numbers of
women and girls outside the cottages picking out
the seed very carefully. A letter from St Martin,
West Indies, reports that cotton is extensively cul-
tivated in that island, that the returns are remune•
rative, and free labour cheap. The writer desires
pecuniary assistance. A letter received from Go-
vernment-house, Antigua, states that cotton culti-
vation has greatly increased in that islaied—num-
hers are planting from 50 to 100 acres, and if the
price does not fall below is per lb. there will be a
very handsome return of £2O per ewe. The writer
is extending his own efforts in conjunction with
a very experienced planter. Samples of cot-
ton were received from the Governor-in-
Chief of the Leeward Islands, which have been
cleaned by the saw and Macarthy gins for the
purpose of ascertaining the effect produced by each
machine, A letter was read describing the efforts
made by her Majesty's Counsel at the Navigator's
Islands, South Seas, to induce the natives to grow
cotton, and stating that he himself has about 26
acres under cultivation. The grant of a gin was
made to assist the natives in their exertions, and
as the climate is represented to be highly suitable,
satisfactory results are anticipated. A circular was
read from the Foreign-officEistat in g that the Franco-
Swiss treaty, lately concluded, will reduce the
French import duty on silk ribands 60 per cent.
the advantages of which will be shared by British
industry. Consular reports were received from the
Foreign-office on the cultivation of cotton in Syria
and Cyprus, Latakia, Tripoli, Bagdad, Bussorah,
Moussul, Crete, Mexico, Central America, and Cape
Verd Islands. Her Majesty's Consul-General
at Beyrout reports that in Syria and the
Island of Cyprus 25,140 acres were planted
with cotton in 1863, and 53,000 acres in
1864—that 22,000ib of exotic seed were used in the
former year, and 62,7501 b. in the latter. The pro-
duce in 1863 was 3,975,0001 b., and this year it is
expected to be 8,900,0001 b., the greater part of
which is now sent to England. The crops present
a promising appearance, and are likely to be abun-
dant. They would be greatly increased by irriga-
tion, which is prevented by the general scarcity of
water. Better protection on the part of the Go•
vernment is needed to prevent in the South, of Syria
the incursions of the nomad tribes, and in other
parts the unjust exertions of- tax gatherers and
petty governors. The permission to Europeans to
hold land would be of great advantage, and would
speedily lead to an improved system of agri-
culture. Ira the Vice-Cmsular district of La.
takia the extent of laud platted with cotton has
not been ascertained, but the produce which in
1863 was 200,000 ckes of 2,2 each, is expected
this year to be 400,000 ekes, which is sent to
*Marseilles and Liverpool. The cation crop is ex.
cellent, and a considerable extent of virgin soil has
been turned up this year. The small quantity of
Egyptian seed that was sown has answered so well
that general regret is felt that all the seed gratni.
tously distributed was not planted, as it does not
require irrigation, and there is a determination to
make use of it next year. The inefficiency of the
Government, and the prohibition to Europeans to
hold land are represented to be hindrances to the
extension of cotton cultivation. In the district of
Tripoli the production was insignificant in 1863,
and only for local consumption; this year it is ex-
pected to be 50,000 ekes. The cultivation will ins
crease if Government will protect the plantations
and provide seed at a fair price without the inter.
vention of those who wish to made a profit by it.
The report from the province of Bagdad states that
up to 1863 the produce was unequal to the local con-
sumption, and was supplemented by importations
from Persia. The crops last year were almost des
atroyed by locusts. This year but little injury has
been done, and the new lands planted with cotton
are probably double the extent of previous years.
Some American and Egyptian seed procured from
Bombay was sown, and a considerable quantity of
the latter has been brought from Suez for use in
1865. The country is highly favourable to the cul-
tivation of cotton, but under the existing system
but little encouragement is afforded. Applications
from native speculators to undertake the cultiva.
tion of land for a term of years at a fixed rental,
and proposals from British merchants to introduce
pumps for the purposes of irrigation, are met by
Namik Pasha with the uniform answer that the
time has not arrived for taking them into conside-
ration. In Bussorah, Turkish Arabia, 200 acres
were planted with cotton in 1863, and 250 acres in
1864; the produce was 14,0001 b in the former year,
and is expected to be 23,0001 b in the latter. The
district is well adapted to cotton cultivation, and
the only hindrances are the insecerity of pro•
perty, the native dislike to innovation, and the
scantiness of the population. In the province of
Moussul about 18,000 acres of land are annually
planted with cotton ; last year the produce was
2,377,3501 b., and the crops appear to promise a
considerable increase, the extent of which cannot
yet be ascertained. Cotton has hitherto been grown
only for local consumption, In Crete it has not been
found possible to ascertain the extent of land planted
with cotton, but the produce, which was 1,170 cwt.
in 1863, is expected to be this year 4,000 cwt. The
crops are promising, though in some parts they
have been damaged by the early rains. But little
use has hitherto been made of exotic seed, that of
the country appearing to give a surer yield. In the
State of Vera Cruz, Mexico, the area planted with
cotton from 1853 to 1862 was upon an average 40,240
acres, and during the last two years the increase has
been about 60 per cent. The produce in 1863 was
2,500,0001 b., but this year it is not expected to ex.
ceed 2,500,0001 b. In the past two years the crop
has been nearly destroyed by the caterpillars. This
plague appears to visit all the coast every. 12 or 14
years, for one or two seasons, and then disappears.
There is abundance of land suited for cotton, and
labour oan be obtained from the upper country. In
the Republic of Salvador the extent of land planted
with cotton has nut been ascertained, and though
under proper management the country could pro-
duce cotton, the people are without experience in
the cultivation and are only now becoming fully alive
to its importance. Her Majesty's Consul at Pernam.
bums forwards a copy of a despatch received from the
British Vice-Consulate, Paraiba, stating "that the
cotton crop having partially failed in many places
from the want of rain the quantity grown will be less
I ban was estimated, and according to general opinion
will not reach 50,000 bogs, Her Majesty's Consul
at Mexico reports that he has had the queries of the
asecciation translated into Spaniel), and heefing