The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-28 00:00:00

Cotton Supply Association,

At the usual weekly meeting of the Executive
Committee, held on Tuesday, a letter was read from
Jamaica, stating that the writer is devoting himself

to the cultivation of cotton on the north side of the
island; and having great influence with the natives
he is exerting it to induce them to become growers
of cotton as well as himself, whilst he pays special
attention to the due preparation of what is produced
for the market. The negroes, though not adverse,
and even desirous that cotton should succeed, do not
believe that it will, neither do 99 out of every
100 of the other inhabitants; but encouraged b;
the trials already made, and by his own deliberate
conviction, he is boldly prosecuting the work, and
expects that his success will stimulate others to ex-
ertion. A letter was received stating that the cul-
tivation of cotton is extending in Barbary, and that
the natives are entering into it with great earnest-

ness. A great mistake has been made in many
instances in growing the various sorts of cotton
promiscuously ; this has been especially the case in
Algeria, and the cotton thus produced has been
found unsaleable if not useless. The writer men-
tions a beautiful track of country near Tangier,
containing upwards of 20,000 acres, abundantly
watered by springs, and totally uncultivated,
which might be made available for the growth of
cotton. A despatch was read, forwarded by the
Colonial-office, from the Governor of Queensland,
on the introduction of Chinese immigrants into
that colony to grow cotton, and stating that there
is no law in force, as in some of the colonies in
Australia, to impede the immigration, at their
own expense, or at the expense of private
employers, of the inhabitants of China or
of any other country ; but that emigration from
Europe only can be assisted at the public expense,
according to the regulations sanctioned by the
Queensland Parliament. On the question from
what source can a permanent supply of the raw
material suitable for our manufactures, and capable
of competing with the product of the Southern
States of America, be obtained, the despatch repeats
what his excellency had previously stated, viz.
"That the whole question of the supply of Asiatic
labour really affects the mother country far more
than the colony. The Government and legislature
of Queensland have done all in their power, by
offering free grants of land, premiums on the
exportation of cotton, and other facilities and en-
couragements, to assist the parent state in the pre-
sent crisis in the supply of the raw material of her
staple manufacture. Mr. Be zley and other practical
men are of opinion that sufficient cotton for the de-
mands of the English trade might be grown in
Queensland alone with the aid of Asiatic labour,
which they deem indispensable. But if cotton. is to be
grown on an extensive scale it must be by English
capitalists, the capital of the colonists being already
for the most part absorbed in growing wool. It fol-
lows that any restrictions, or difficulties and delays
equivalent to restrictions, imposed on the introduc-
tion of Asiatic labour, whether Hindoo or Chinese,
will fall far more heavily on the capitalists and
manufacturers in England than on the colonists in
Queensland." A letter was received from Smyrna
from the ViceTresident of the Cotton Commission
of Anatolia, stating that the attention of the Im
perial government has been specially directed to the
importance of promoting the use of American seed,
and that the Minister of Commerce is now practi
cally engaged with the subject. The exotic seed,
distributed and planted last year, was so late that it
came up just in time for the locusts, and fell a prey
to them. Some hesitation as to using exotic seed
has consequently been felt by the native cultivators,
which will be removed by a goad harvest and the
successful results in other districts. Notwithstand-
ing all difficulties and discouragements cotton grow-
ing has taken a firm hold, ginning establishments
have sprung up in all the chief districts, and the
Imperial government has just sent down 25 of Platt's
gins for distribution in the country districts around