The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-10 00:00:00

COTTON SUPPLY ASSOCIATION,

At the usual weekly meeting of the Executive Commit-
tee, held on the Bth inst., a letter was read from her Ma-
jesty's consul at Pernambuco, stating that owing to the at •
tention now given to the cultivation of cotton, seed is
eagerly sought fur, and that, it a quantity could be supplied
of good quality, especially Sea Island, it would be immedi-
ately planted. Interesting letters from two different cor-
respondents were received respecting the cotton grow-
ing capabilities of Demerara. The colony is repre-
sented to be well able to furnish an almost unlimited
supply of cotton and of the Lest kind. The long line of
seacoast, extending from the Orinoco towards the south, is
described as well adapted to the cultivation, and prior to
the abolition of slavery contained several estates which pro-
duced a high class of cotton. Sugar has since taken its
place, but there is now a general disposition to resume the
growth of cotton ; land is e.bundar t, the soil rich, perhaps
the richest in the world, and both non-resident proprietors
of sugar estates, small owners of land, ana small tenants are
directing their attention to the subject, and it is expected
that within the next nine months a considerable extent of
land will be appropri sted to cotton. Judicious measures have
been taken, both by the legislature and the public, to promote
the emigration of labourers from the United States and 13ar-
badoes, where there is a superabundance of labour, and it is
confident') expected the colony will again become celebrated
for the quality and quantity of its cotton. A letter was read
containing an interesting report of an experiment conducted
by experienced agriculturists in the South Mahratta coun-
try for the purpose of determining the possibility of improv-
ing the system of cotton cultivation pursued by the Indian
ryot. The experiment was conducted on 33 acres of land,
22 of which were ploughed with an English plough, har-
rowed, manured, and drilled, according to the English sys-
tem. The remaining 11 acres were ploughed and prepared
precisely after the native method. The produce of the 22
acres was 387 rewinds of 281 b eacte, and of the 11 acres 73
wands, or 17 3-sths maunds per acre in the one case, and
maunds in the other. Distinguishing the two as Eng-
lish and native fields, the English kuppas yields One part of
fibre to 2.27 parts of seed, and the native kuppas one part of
fibre to 2.71 parts of seed, or 14 per cent in favour of the
former. Of clean cotton the English field has yielded at
the rate of 1591 b per acre, and the native 581 b. The result
obtained should have an important bearing ripen the culti-
vation of cotton in India. Full details of the experiment
as well as samples of the cotton have been furnished. The
opinion is confidently expressed that by carefully select-
ing seed and continuing the system of selection for a
series of years an immense improvement in the quality of
the indigenous varieties of cotton in India would be
effected, and that with
Proper care and treatment such
exotic varieties as New Orleans, Peruvian, and Egyptian
may be successfully introduced into almost any part of
cotton-growing India. A letter was read from the honorary
agents of the association at Madras containing a detailed
account of the distribution of seed forwarded to them be•
tween June, 1861, and February, 1863, together with re•
ports from various retipiehis of the seed. The seed ob-
tained from the cotton thus grown has been preserved for
resowing. Large quantities of seed have been supplied to
the Agri-HortittiltUtal society. The report from the Go-
vernment of Mysore states the total area under cotton in
that territory to be 46,127 acres; the principal cotton-
growing haloolte are in the litigar division, bor-
supplanted the indigenous and
clerk ; oh the liharwa collectorate. About an equal ex-
tent has been sown with indigenous and exotic cotton, but
in Chituldroog, where the cultivation has spread more
rapidly, from superior adaptation of soil and climate, the
foreign has in a great degree
more than doubled its extent. In 1861 Mr. Davis was ap-
pointed supervisor of cotton in Mysore, with a view to en-
courage the ititroduction of foreign seed. A large quantity,
amounting to 4,652 maunds,
was procured from Dharwar
and distributed, but it proved insufficient to satisfy the de-
mand. Gins are in great demand, and it is proposed to
Import them direct from England in future. A letter was
read from the honorary agents of the association, Bombay,
enclosing a communication from the Pasha. of Bagdad, who
transmits samples of cotton grown at Bussorah and Khan-
nikeen, and states the quantity of the former to be compa-
ratively large, and that probably not less than GO or 80 bales
will find their way to the Bombay market this season; but
the quantity of the latter will be diminished by the ravages
of the locusts. There is, however, every reason to expect
an extended cultivation during the ensuing spring. A re-
port was received from the India-office on the cultivation
of Peruvian cotton in the Madras district. The seed was
sown in the sand fiats or drifts to the north of Ennore, the
ground being slightly watered by the hand till the plants
appeared above the surface, and occasionally afterwards till
they rose to 9in. Some of the plants reached the height of
2ft. or 3ft., bore flowers and pods, and looked healthy, but
most of them never came to maturity, and there can be no
doubt that the seed was sown too late. The experiment
shows clearly that a fair crop can be obtained from good im-
ported seed, whether Egyptian or Peruvian, and immense
tracts of land are available which might be turned to good
account. The ryots would extensively grow cotton if they
had only a nominal assessment to pay. Consular despatches
forwarded by the Foreign-office were received from her
Majesty's Consul at Palermo, with enclosures from Mar-
sala and Catania, reporting that the extent of land un-
der cotton cultivation is double that of 1862. Full de-
tails are given, which will be published in the Cotton
,Supply _Reporter. Samples of cotton from Paraguay,
where the cultivation is extending, and of native grown
cotton from Natal were submitted for examination. Seven
bales of the latter are on their way to the association, Various