The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-29 00:00:00

Cotton Supply Association,

At the usual weekly meeting of the executive
committee, held on Tuesday, a letter was read from
Natal, enclosing a sample of cotton grown from
Egyptian seed, planted on the first rising land from
the coast, about ten miles from the seaboard, and
which was valued at 24d. per lb. The writer, who
was engaged for many years in growing cotton in
the Southern States, and more recently in Natal,
expects shortly to be in England, and offers his
services to any parties engaged in cotton cultiva-
tion, and willing to go out to any country where
they could be made available. A letter was received
forwarding a sample of cotton from Asia Minor,
brought by a gentleman from India, who has paid
considerable attention to the growth of cotton, and
who is able to give further information respecting
the locality from which it was procured. A letter
was read from the India-office, containing copies of
despatches received from the government of Madras
relative to the cultivation of Peruvian cotton in the
Kistna and Salem districts of that presidency.
Samples of the cotton were also received, and valued
at 23d. per lb. It is said to require artificial irri•
gation when young in every case, and probably also
when fully grown, except in a moist climate. It
seems peculiarly liable to be attacked by insects,
and as the crop is not matured in any one month,
but spreads over a great length of time, it is in
danger of being spoiled by rain or unfavourable
weather. The staple is longer and finer than that
of the country cotton. Further experiments are in
progress, the result of which will be communicated.
A small sample of cotton grown in Mazagan from
Sea Island seed was valued at 27d. per lb. Con-
sular reports were received from the Foreign-
office on the cultivation of cotton in the
districts of Cyprus, Sidon, Caiffa and Acre,
Jerusalem, Brussa, Morocco, Pernambuco, and
Venezuela. In the Island of Cyprus, 16,460 acres
were planted with cotton in 1863, and 22,000 acres
in 1864, and the produce, which amounted to
2,200,0001 b in the former, is expected to 3,000,0001 b
in the present year, Wages and rentals have risen
fully 100 per cent„ but should they return to rates
current previous to this season, 6d per lb would be
a remunerative price. The cotton has usually gone
to Marseilles and Trieste, but now England receives
a portion. The weather has been propitious, and
the crops promise to be abundant and good. In-
creased means of irrigation are needed, and larger
supplies of American seed would prove highly ad-
vantageous. In the vice-consular district of Sidon
the area planted with cotton has increased from
1,000 acres in 1863 to 7,000 acres in 1864, and the
produce, which amounted from 30,000 to 35,0001 b
in the former, is estimated at from 300,0001 b to
350,0001 b in the present year. One half of that
grown is consumed in the country, and the remain-
der is exported chiefly to France. Under ordinary
circumstances 8d per lb would be remunerative.
The present crop owing to late springs is unusually
promising. The chief hindrance is the opposition
of the Turkish authorities to the enterprise of fo-
reigners desirous of engaging in agriculture, whilst
the natives seem incapable by themselves of intro•
dining nee( ssfiry improvements. In the districts of
Caiffa and Acre 4,100 acres were planted with cot-
ton in 1863 and 16,000 in 1864, and the produce,
which in the former was 1,190,0001b5, is expected
to be this year 4,300,0001b5. Of this 2-3.rds are sent
to Marseilles, the rest to Smyrna for transhipment,
and but little to England. From 31d to 4d per lb
would be remunerative in ordinary times. The state
of the crops is all that could be desired, except
in the narrow maritime plain commencing from the
promontory of Carmel, and running ten or fif-
teen miles south, where the general opinion
is that only one-third of the crop will come to
maturity. The soil is a rich friable loam, produc-
ing heavy crops of wheat. It is not probable that
there will be increased production in future years
if present prices decline. Egyptian seed appears to
do well, and if the anticipated reßnita 4=o r~atiaed
the'prejudic;ts prevailiug ugainst exotic seed will be
removed. The primitive state of agriculture, the
local maladministration of government, and the law
preventing Europeans from holding landed property
are the chief hindrances. In the consular district
of Jerusalem little or nothing is doing in cotton
cultivation ; the small quantity grown is from in-
digenous seed, and of an inferior quality. Her Ma-
jesty's consul at Brussa, in a despatch to Sir H.
Bulwer, states that at Balukisser the commissioner
had built two extensive warehouses, each 300 yards
square, for a cotton depot, and inclosed a space of
41,500 square yards for a cotton fair, to be opened
on Oct. 15, Licences had been given by the Porte
for two establishments at Kirkgagatch for presses
and gins to be worked by steam. In the sub-dis
tricts of Somme and Kirkgagatch, where the cul-
ture of cotton is habitual, it had been carried so far
that about 700 acres were left free for its extension
this year. But in the sub districts of Balukisser
and others it had been more than doubled, extend-
ing over more than 6,000 acres at Balukisser in lieu
of 2,000 acres last year, giving a surplus product in
cotton of about 870 bales of 1701 b. each in that
particular locality. The commissioner feels assured
that if supplied with 40 tons of New Orleans seed
at Panorma by March next, he could get the whole
of it planted. Achmet Vefyk Effendi, fully appre-
ciating the great importance of cotton culture, has
made its extension a primary object, and there
would be real and vast progress if other function-
aries of the Porte would, according to their means
and influence, devote their energies to the same end
and with equal resolution. The vice-consuls at the
Moorish ports state there has been a very trifling in-
crease in the cultivation of cotton iu Morocco. In
1863 there were about 600 acres sown, in 1864 about
2,500 acres, As there are no European residents
in the interior, it is difficult to ascertain the extent
of land cultivated in the inland districts, but it is
not supposed to exceed an additional three or four
thousand acres. The present year's crop is expected
to be required for native manufacture. The plant
thrives in the districts where it has been sown, and
is of good quality. There are vast districts where
it could be profitably cultivated. The Sultan was
induced to prohibit the exportation of cotton from
the Moorish ports, with the view of checking the
agricultural speculation of Europeans, some of whom
had taken possession of lands belonging to the
Government without the permission of the local
authorities, and even without offering to pay rent,
whilst others refused to pay land taxes. The Sultan,
though desiring to encourage the cultivation of
cotton, could not do so when it gave rise to such
encroachments on his sovereign rights. The country
has not only a climate and soil peculiarly adapted
for the cultivation of cotton, but is favourably
situated in being within a voyage of four days by
steam from England. In the Tangier district no
attempt as yet has been made to grow cotton. The
soil and climate are not so favourable as the pro-
vinces on the western coast. The vice-consul re-
ports that no cotton has been grown at Laroiche.
In the province of Pernambuco the extent of land
planted with cotton, cannot be well ascertained ;
about two tons of exotic seed have been sown this
year, and the produce, which was 46,044 bales of
1601 b. each in 1863, is expected to be 120,000 bales li
this year. The extended growth of cotton has
greatly contributed to the prosperity of the pro-
vince, and has acted most favourably upon every
branch of trade. A large proportion of the value
of the raw material is returned to the interior in the
form of manufactured articles. New experiments
are in progress which, if successful, will greatly in-
crease the exports. The return from Caracas states
that in certain parts of Venezuela the area planted
with cotton had increased from 11,000 acres in
1863 to 35,000 acres in 1864, and that the produce
will be threefold more this year than the last. The
want of labour is represented to be a great hind-
rance to extended cultivation. The Government
imported in 1863 10,000 lb. of New Orleans seed,
which was distributed and planted ; the seed from
last year's crop has been used this year together
with native or Surinam seed. A circular was re•
ceivei from the Foreignsoffice with a summary of
Austrian opinions respecting the projected tariff,
Applications for seed were received from Spain,
Junaica, and Chins, which concluded the business.