The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-08
COTTON PRODUCTS ABROAD.
specimens Displayed at n Recent Elk
hfbftfon In Frnnce

specimens Displayed at a Recent Ex-
hfbitfon In France.
J. C. Covert, United States Consul at
Lyons. writes the State Department that
the arrival in France Of several small lots
OF cotton grown in the French Sudan has
excited a great deal OF comment among
French capitalists, especially among the
leaders in colonial work. Specimens Of
this cotton were displayed at a recent
meeting OF the National Agricultural So
eiety- There were present a number Of
manufacturers of cotton goods-some from
other cOuntries-and all manifested a
keen interest in the subject The prla-
eipal speaker was NJ. Dybowski a French
explorer, who had spent a great many
years in Africa, and is considered an au-
thOrity on that country. Mr.. Covert trans
lates from his remarks as follows:
The progress OF the production and the
manufacture of cotton is calculated to
inspire wonder A century ago. England
was the only market to which the world
looked for its supply In 1874 England re-
eelVed the first shipment Of seventy-one
bales from the United States. The quaa-
uty seemed enormous. English customs
officials could not believe that il came
from the New World and seized Il on the
ground Of false declaration Of origin To-
Gay Uncle Sam produces II. 900 600 and p =
100000 bales-Oyer 5000, 600 GOO pounds.
IN spite OF the impulse to manufacture
given By machinery. perfection has not
yet been reached The quality OF cotton
necessary 10 receiye-a uniform dye is
yet TO be produced. The Nogent Colonial
Garden has undertaken TO improve ex-
lsting plants through scientific selection.
10 the end thai >
vided with better seed.
We possess immense areas in Africa
where the cotton plant grows as luxuri-
antiy as wheat in the most favored plains
OF France. To emaneipate ourselves from
England, which holds. as it were. an ex-
elusive control Of this textile, Il IS only
necessary for US 10 systematic this
branch OF agriculture in ire Sudan. -o1go
senegal. and the Upper Oubangi. The eli
mate IS most favorable. thanks to the
strongly marked alterations Of dry and
wet seasons
The cultivation should be modified. not
by The introduction OF American cotton.
which thrives indifferently there but By
an improvement OF existing local varfe-
ties Our commercial interests know what
African cotton IS Thirty tons Of il have
already arrived here from the Sudan Fifty
tons more are about to be shipped II IS
coarse. but that is because il was gather
ed BY the natives from plants over a year
old Il should be planted yearly. which
can be done by the system Of rotation or
crops, If deemed necessary. Cotton is like
tomatoes; these two plants may live sew
eral years. but the first years products
are the only really good ones.
The best crops q American cotton pre-
sent striking inequalities. which up 20 this
time seem 10 have escaped the attention
OF the experts These differences extend
even 10 the seeds in the same capsules.
which may have good bad, or Indifferent
poll To make a sudicioUs selection il is
necessary to study. one BY one the silks
on the crests.' The failure &c make this
careful study accounts for the inability Of
the trade 10 furnish sufficiently uniform
cSstcn- In order 10 estimate the value OF
each hb7e tpOiD, its diameter, length, and
resistance must be determined ThS lon
ger. the finer the more silkea. and the
more snarled the poll. the greater its re
sistance- The diameter is measured by
the aid OF a microscope To be Of good
quality. IL ought not 70 exceed twenty or
t~enty-one One-thOusandths OF a MILNE
ter The resistance is determined by a
very ingenious apparatus invented By NJ
Henri. OF the Colonial Garden Il ought 10
be between s and 9 grams. By applying
these methods. the savants al the Nogent
Garden have succeeded in obtaining the
best seeds. which are sent 10 the colonies
for propagation There is every reason to
believe that cotton will soon become a
powerful element Of wealth for our colo
MES. and that its culture will be placed in
a hOurishing condition by the interposition
OF private enterprise.
The total production OF Russian cot
ton. up to within a few years. has hardly
reached half Of the total yield % the
United States The output Of India does
not exceed !, O00 600 bales. and that of ia
pan is hardly 100000 pounds. Within 4
few years, however Russia has been striv-
ing to create an important cotton centre
in TurkeStan. and she expects to secure
raw material from that quarter in suffi-
eient to quantity TO supply the mills Of the
metropolis Il is difficult at first glance
70 explain the success here; the climate IS
severe. the extremes Of temperature mark
ed. rain is rare. and the heat is intense.
But the extreme warmth OF summer inten-
SITES the power Of vegetation. and irriga-
ton takes the place Of rain
". COTnue, another speaker. stated that
while he was in Moscow he saw many wag-
ons loaded with cotton from Turkestan.
He thought that in the near future. the
Empire CT the Cars could supply the fun
demand C the metropolis The Russians
believe that within a few years they will
begin exporting cotton goods The raising
% cotton has already created great activity
in all the tTans-Caspian country.