Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-07-13
CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN AUSTRALIA.
From the Sydney Empire, April 81


Sixty years ago, North America was hardly so far nd
vanced in the cultivation and the trade of cotton IA We
now. That country had not exported q single bale
Since thcn the growth OF cotton has extended into one
Of the weGhiest interests in the world in immediate con-
necOn with the land 1t has increased TO AN extent that
employs the labor Of slave population as numerous rs
of the nations OF Europe. The class of planters
hat have arisen upon it, the came that recen,ly mot
IN the Convention of Memphis with the purpose OF drag
ging the largest portion of the trade between England
aud America into the comparatively deserted arbors OF
The Southern States Rapidly increasing in quantity and
gradually reducing in price, the overwhelming supplies
from the United States aunihated the cultivation OF cot
in Turkey, md for the part in the West Indies
aud other places that previously held possession If the
markets. The results Of two fold Importance a.
showing ar uuboundei prospec. OF wealth. and at the
anne time an enormous aud hitherto irresistible compe-
titOr.
The first conclusion which We gather from the au.horv
Of Mr. Mackay, who writes the results OF his Observation
America lets into the secret Of the oyerwheInino
competition If he American planters That their pro
duce rose add their prices Tell overruu the pro
iuctve powers OF other countries mainly owing In
their scope for ally taking aud suitable
INTO cultivation. Bat this scOpeis coming to a ter
mnaon. Most OF the available lands have been oyerrur
aud tn remains only the expensive process o ar
culture TO supply the increasing demand of the cotton
markets. The application Of skill may colnpensa,,
for deficiency in the productive powers of the sail
can greatly diminish the expen'e OF d;lgen sys
tenn OF cultivation. Still America will be unable TO sun
oily the demand At its increasing for the last thirty
except by raising the price Of cotton; and this opin
ION, written two years has been amply confirmed since
and is confirmed by the advancing prices of cotton not
Sithstandng the strikes in England at the present mo
ment.
The next conclusion arrived At the inability Of ,an
tiers in India TO compee with those of Americl even
lowing large margin for rise OF prices in their a.
This prOceci- not from higher cost of labor which
ratsr cheaper III India thin that of the negro ST We in
America nor much from the scope or exbaustion nj
the soil IL Is the result OF comparative quality in the pro
ducc The Indian cotton be brought into The Pn
gsh market at per lower than the American
but, besides being unfit for many descriptions of m lnuf,
ture It s % per cent less valuable Il is
set down az mere supplement 10 the American suppl-i
increasing or diminishing according their rise in price o,
their fall ~ quantity.
We believe that several inerences nav be drawn in a.
vor OF the cultivation o! cotton in this COLONY There /.
no necessity 70 elbow passage through crowd of com,
petitors. India ia for removed Of the way bv tho M
advantage OF nearly 20 per in the value OF her
ducc, and We may b. said to he left almost alona viii
America. There IL no neel of imagining cou,as, N
push that Colossus clear Of the market ANAL onr,-
Tor long time to come il adequate our occasions and
this appears 20 be conceded between the deficiency f m
supplies rom America and the inferority of those fn
India. The Advantages against w on boh siIes i,
the price OF labor; but on the side the aiytnt,g, Il
losin the quality already referred to- aud on the ob !,
may be lost in our possessing such scope of land NJ o,
naly gave America her miin power Of running Tn
competitors Ia addition % this IL nay be true as IL has
been frequently asserted that sol! will Weld a, ave-
rage ol cotton OF the hghcs: qui!y and the
Of slave LABOR has been proved b. less real than
rent ana val prove 50 aud more us il comes 10 ~,
| apPheI with purpose Of skill and economy