Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-06-25
pgr None Sold at Wholesale.
Egyptian Cotton.

The following will be of interest to the
cotton men of Memphis. A correspon-
dent of the Manchester Guardian writes:
Considerable dissatisfaction has been
expressed during the past few years, by
the fine spinners of Bolton and other
users of Egyptian cotton, at the deteEio-
ration in quality and irregularity in
staple, which, commencing with the
scarcity caused by the American war,
have gradually increased, until a me-
mortal to the Khedive is about to be
transmitted to Egypt, setting forth the
grievances complained of. The princi-
pal points Of the memorialists are these:
|. Egyptian cotton used to be brown,
silky, long, and regular in staple. 1t is
now, il very many cases, mixed in color
drown and white), silky and harsh sta
pie mixed and irregular in length Of
staple. g. That this irregularity in color
is caused by the mixture of seed. 3.
That this mixture is principally due to
the fact that planters have to purchase
their seed from the large ginning fac
tories. 4. That unless this evil can be
remedied, the memorialists will be COM
PEELED to abandon the use Of Egyptian
cotton.
The first complaint is undoubtedly we'll
founded, for, unless in the finest grades,
it is now very difficult for spinners to
meet with Egyptian cotton, either brown
or white, that is regular in length or
sickness Of staple even in the Liverpool
market; and still more so when they buy
ito arrive" or cost and freight" The
result Of such mixture of color must OF
course be to produce a streaky yarn;
the result of such irregularity of staple
is to cause breakages and staring yarn.
This, which might not be OF such great
matter in the lower counts, becomes OF
paramount Importance in the fine Boil
ton spinnings. 1t is not therefore to be
wondered at that spinners have seen fit
TO express themselves strongly in the
matter. AS regards the second point
also, there can be little doubt that the
memorialists are correct. 1t is well
known that among the other expert
ments induced by the cottc . famine and
consequent high prices, American seed
was largely introduced both in India
and in Egypt. In India this has led to
great improvement in quality and
stamp, notably in sawginned Dherwar.
In Symrna cotton the result was fairly
satisfactory, although, perhaps, the ex-
pertinent was hardly carried out to an
extent sufficient properly to test its
value; but in Egypt it has undoubtedly
led to a practical deterioration OF the
cotton produced; tor the American seed
is of course about as incapable of pro-
ducing the old fashioned brown silky
Egyptian cotton as the seed of big
dog rose would be of producing " Gen.
Jacquenot. Unfortunately, however,
and here we come 10 the third point of
the memorialists, the seed as a rule
has to be purchased of the ginning
factories, who either from inability, care
the three qualities of seed, i. E., the
genuine Egyptian, the American, and
what we may call the bastard Egyptian
or Egypto-American seed-that is to say,
the seed from the plant grown in Egypt
from American imported seed As re-
CARDS the fourth point, it is difficult to
see what the memorialists are to do il
they abstain from using Egyptian cot
ton. The supply of Sea Island, even
when supplemented by Fiji and other
eognate growths, would be utterly insult
fcient for their wants. At the same
time their complaint is a just one, and
with the memorial will be at
onee the truest interest of the Khedive,
and of great importance to the fine spin
ners Of our manufacturing districts