The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-08
Cotton Cultivation In the West Indies.

The London N0ncOnfoymist has been suggesting
to the Lancashire mill owners and others whom it
may concern the policy Of growing cotton in ia
maica and British Guiana, alleging that there is
scarcely any limit to the quantity that could be
grown in those colonies and that too, of superior
quality to any that is imported from the East Indies
and some ports of America. One Of the arguments
adduced in favor of the scheme is the possibility Of
Great Britain being at war with the countries from
which the present supplies are derived; another ia
the unsatisfactory nature of their domestic arrange
ments meaning, of course, the existence Of slavery
in the cotton growing States of the American UniOn
The auson to the possibility of war is the old
vulgar clap trap, which is periodically employed to
brighten the people Of this country whenever any
cause of difference arises between the two nations;
but it has become somewhat STALE and has lost the
effect for which IL was intended Who is there SO
blind as not to that in the event Of war with
Great Britain the stoppage of the cotton trade with
that country would tell with .ar more disastrous Of
feet on that than this side of the Atlantict The
closing of the Lancashire mills would carry
starvation into thousands of English homesteads.
ard render unpopular a war fraught with 80
much misery to the sturdy operatives Of England
while the loss of our British customers would stmu-
late our people In the manufacture Of the mate
rial. and the close of the war might witness the
bloitng out of Great Britain from her present posi-
ton Ut the foremost manufacturer OF cotton staples.
In regard to our pious cotemporarys allusion to
domestic arrangements we regard il as rank n.y.
pocrisy. Great Britain has contaminated the ruin Of
her own colonies by admitting slave grown sugar
and coffee on equal terms with those Of her freed de-
Tendencies, though the latter are quite equal tosup-
plying her with much of these articles she may
desire. Whence, then, this sudden tenderness Of
conscience in respect to slave grown cottony This
Is stralning at gnat and swallowing a camel,
with vengeance.
But are the West India colonies really capable OF
supplying Great Britain with cotton to the extent
vaunfed by the Noncont ov1nist and other English
journals! say, emphatcally but advisedly, no
The scheme has been tried in jamaica and most sig
naly failed. In the yesr 1850 cotton planting IN
that island became perfect frore; seeds Of choice
varieties were largely imported. and company was
formed Tor the purpose OF carrying into practical
operation the favorite design. Several owners Of
landed property, too, Individually embarked in tho
undertaking. What was the RESULT Why that, in
spite OF most luxuant crops, in the teeth, too Of
the fact stated by the Nonconfo7nist, that the
cotton plant in the West Indies Is perennial,
cotton cultivation was found to be q losing
speculation, and was accordingly abandoned. There
is one characteristic in West India vegetation
which In the case OF cotton, counteracted all the
immense advantages which the climate and soil Of
Jamaica undoubtedly possess over the Southern
Sates-that s, there Is no so such thing as regl-
lar season for coming TO maturity On the same
bush may be seen blossoms. the green pod, Ia dife
that to gather crop under such circumstances must
be attended with great difficulty. Day after
day, throughout the entire year, must the picker
return 20 the same bush and engage In the wcari-
some search for ripe pods. The expense attending
this tedious and neverending process more than
counterbalances the advantages perennial growth.
1t was found to be 80 in the case of cotton
growing in Jamaica, AS it will be found 10 Guiana or
any other part OF the West Indies In which 1t may
be tried II il the same peculiarly which has pro
NOTED the manufacture OF wine from the excellent
grapes OF the country, and which still prevents the
cultivation ~ many useful plants the gathering OF
whose fruit 10 render IL paying concern, impera-
lively demands season OF simultaneous ripening.
IL IL very easy for gentleman 10 sit in n cozy
arm chair and advise what ought 10 he done In a
country five thousand miles of; but in his Ignorance
OF the pecuariics Of climate aud thousand other
things that require 70 he taken into account nc is
liable to make himself very ridiculous. as the adyo-
Gates OF cotton cultivation in the West Indies are
doing. The Southern cotton planters may rest as
snred That they will never have rivals In the West
Indies in cotton cutre even though all the wealth
OF all the mill owners IN England should be arrayed
against them.