Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-01-10
WORLDS COTTON CULTIVATION.
The Highly Expert Report Of the Eng
lish Authority, Prof. Dunstan.

HSn AutnoTityy FToIs 1unstdH.
The report Of the present Position
of Cotton Cultivation" which was
presented by Prof. Wyndham Dun
stan, director of the Imperial Insti-
tute, to the International Congress Of
Tropical Agriculture held in Brus-
sells last May, has now been published
by the International Association Of
Tropical Agriculture and Colonial
Development. To 1t are appended
special reports on the present position
and prospects Of cotton growing in
each Of the actual al 1 potential cot
lton-producing countries Of the world.
Attention is drawn to the fact that at
present the sub-tropics produce the
majority Of cotton Of the quality re-
quired by the Lancashire manufac-
and Egypt. Information is given as to
the present conditions Of cotton cul-
! tivation in both these countries.
Emphasis Is laid on the fact that In
the United States the industry has
had the great advantage Of the as
siStance of an efficient government de-
partment Of agriculture, whose labors
have contributed in no small measure
to surmount the many obstacles with
which American cotton cultivation
has had to contend. In Egypt the
absence of any government depart
ment of agriculture to afford guild
ance to the cultivator and to con-
duct experiments is deplored, al
though credit is given for much val
liable work to the Khedivial Agricul-
tural society. In footnote 1t Is add
ed that the Egyptian government
has now decided to create the agri-
cultural department which has been
long needed. 1t is understood that
Mr.. G. c. Dudgeon, inspector Of ag-
riculture in West Africa, who In that
capacity has been attached to the
Imperial Institute, has been chosen
as the first director general of agricul-
ture in Egypt. The problems to be
solved in connection with Egyptian
cotton growing are discussed, and ref
erence is made to the great possibili-
ties presented by the Anglo-Egypt
Sudan for bringing a large area Of
that country under cotton cultivation,
a subject which was dealt with in q
leading article in the Times Of Octo-
Der IA.
The prospects of cotton growing in
the British empire has been discussed
in Prof. Dunstan's report to parlia-
ment Of last year. In the present re-
port they are separately considered,
as Is also the position in India.
Stress is again ]e:5 on the import
ance of continuous experimental
work under government auspices,
since the problem in most countries
is to establish an acclimatized type Of
cotton suitable for the purpose Of the
manufacturer. Progress, though
slow, appears to be satisfactory. In
Nyasaland success seems to have
been achieved, a new cotton, to be
known as "Nyasaland Upland" hav-
ing been established. This cotton is
said to be in some respects superior
to the best American Upland" and
to satisfy all the requirements Of
Lancashire. The prospects in Ugan-
da are mentioned as Of special prom
ise, and the progress made in West
Africa is referred to, attention being
drawn to the developments which are
likely to occur through the opening
Of the Northern Nigeria railway now
approaching completion. Accounts
are given of cotton cultivation in
French, German, Dutch, Portuguese,
and Italian colonies, and also in South
America, the South Sea Islands, ia
pan and China. In China it is stated
that the production of a coarse cotton
has now reached 600,000,000 pounds
annually, and the effects Of an extern
sion Of this cultivation are considered.
Asia Minor Is spoken Of as a prom
ising field for the growth Of cotton OF
the American Upland" type and In
this connection reference Is made to
Prof. Dunstan's previous report on
this subject, and especially to the
openings for cotton cultivation pre-
sented by the great plain Of Cilicia.
The importance Of the work of the
British Cotton-Growing association
is dwelt upon, and IT is satisfactory
to learn that the British government
has decided to assist its operations
by the conditional grant Of 10000
a year for a term Of years. 1t Is also
understood that the chancellor Of the
exchequer has under consideration
the question of assisting British en-
terprise in the Sudan in operating on
a large scale in a promising district
of that country, in respect of which,
as has been recently pointed out In
these columns, Great Britain has an
important vested interest and respon-
sibility.
The report is a good example Of the
useful work which may be done oy
the International Association for Trop-
ical Agriculture in subjects or this
kind. which are materially advanced
by the discussion among workers or
different nationalities, such as those
who have contributed to this report.
1t also indicates the important place
which Is now being filled by the I'm
perial institute in connection with the
colonial office as a centre for mforma-
ton and research relating to the de-
yelopment of the resources OF the
tropics.-London Times.