The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-04
Cotton in Australia.
to The State.

1
Sydney, n. s. w., Aug. ID. There
exists strong probability that in the
near future cotton, like wool, may be.
come one of the staple products Of the
Australian common wealth. The suit-
ability of soil and climate for cotton
growing in the greater part of Queens
land, northern West Australia and the
vast northern territory Of South A u.s.
tralia has long become placed beyond
all dipute; but the paucity of popula-
ton, apart from other considerations,
has hitherto formed an obstacle in the
way Of any extensive development Of
the industry.
In the northern territory the cotton
plant has disseminated itself without
the assistance of man, and may almost
be regarded AZ a portion OF the North
Australian flors, no less than seven out
Of the eight known species being found
In that country. Some years ago it
looked az If cotton cultivation were
destined to become general Ia Queens
land, and cotton mill was established. I.
but low prices, insufficient capita, and
want Of experience led to heavy losses,
which discouraged cotton growers and
caused them to take to dairy farming
and other rural industries. Things are
changed. now. Queensland farmers
believe in the possibilities OF cotton
cultivation, and are prepared to under
take it on an extensive scale II assured
a sufficient supply OF labor during the
picking season. There is no need for
the employment of colored labor, but
the white labor ia apt to weary of the
monotony OF bis occupation. An aver
age farmers family could readily work
an area Of from five to ten acres, In ad-
dition to other farm work. The same
remark applies also to northern Aus
tralla generally. The cultivation Of
cotton, we are told, seems to be the
best complement of cane growing.
The cane is shrub plant, thriving
best when close together, and is ad-
mirsbly suited to be grown on the
heavy shrub lands, whilst the cotton is
essentially suited for being grown on
the lighter forest lands. In the com.
ing time it will be found necessary to
irrigate all cane lands; but the cotton
will not absolutely require irrigation,
In the cane growing districts there is.a
very large proportion of the land unfit
for growing cane, Even the richest
red soil forest lands, though they grow
splendid cane for q few years, are
very quickly exhausted for that
culture but these form the very best
soil for cotton growing. The table
lands of northern Queensland have
been proved to be admirably suited for
growing the high class cottons. The
possile returns, even at a low market
price, from an acre Of cotton are esti-
mated at Is ponds.
A QueenslanG scientist, DR.. Tho
matis. who has devoted much time and
money to experimental cotton grow
ing, has evolved an apparently pro-
missing variety of cotton by hybridf
sation' viii ,h he calls "Caravonica."
This new species ia described as hav-
ing q /" staple very long, strong. reg
ulsr and Of woody appearance, 80 that
it can be used as q substitute for
wool.n The new cotton Is now regard
ed by American and other growers as
the best yet known. There are two
varieties of the new Caravoniea, one
forming, as above mentioned, kind
of substitute for wool; the other being
of a silky texture and very superior.
What DR.. Thomatis has produced OF 1t
from time to time has been sold up to-
Is Sd per pound, and there are orders
for ali that can be grown at that price.
The frat named kind has the advant-
ACE that, instead of being an annual,
as ara those varieties mostly raised In
America, 1t In, truth, q perennial tree.
The labor of annual planting is, there,
fore, avoided, and all that Is required
Is to keep the plantation clean In the
same manner that orchards are.
r. ia q rapid grower, and In II months
reaches at height Of seven feet, and then
Yields q small crop; but 1t continues to
grow. and In q year or two more yields
Enormous crops. Commenting on
Ihese facts, we are told that they In
dicate q splendid future for the great
northern areas of the commonwealth.
THE demsnd for cotton Is ever increas-
ing. It has already more than over
taken the supply. and 1t is Sill increas-
ing, and will continue to year 6y year
az the great markets of Asia and Africa
are opened up. Since 1887 the con.
snmption has increased by zoe, 200, QN
hounds per annum, and yet the price
Of the raw material has doubled IN the
nast few years. There is, therefore, q
practically unlimited market for what
ever Australia may be e,able to produce.
The climate of the Australian cotton
growing districts has been found not
only endurable, but healthful to Eu-
ropeans who have lived there for va
rious periods up to Is years. More
over, Whatever may be the assertions
as to the work in the sugar cane fields
not being suitable for Europeans, 1t Ger
tainly does not apply to the cultivation
of Carvonica cotton.