None of these countries afford commercial supplies.
Australasia.—There can be no doubt of the adaptability of many portions of our Australian colonies to the culture of cotton. Sea-Island cotton of fine texture and quality can be grown on many of the elevated tablelands of Queensland; and samples grown 200 miles from the sea are as good as those raised on the coast. Remarkably fine specimens of Uplands also have been obtained from the coast country of Queensland, an acre yielding over 300 lb. of clean fibre. There is here a fine field for this important industry, yet the exports of raw cotton have fallen from 2,602,100 lb. (value 79,317/.) in 1871, to 221,689 lb. (value 69400 in 1877.
The South Sea Islands seem admirably adapted, both in soil and climate, to cotton-growing. Fiji cotton received three prize medals at the last Exhibition (Paris), and the crop is said to be as heavy as in the S. States. The exports from Tahiti in 1878 were 733,475 lb. of clean haled cotton, valued locally at 30,561/. Only a small proportion of this was grown at Tahiti, the greater part having been obtained from neighbouring independent groups of islands.
Cultivation of the following remarks upon the cultivation of the cotton plant have reference specially to the methods practised with the short-staple or Upland variety in the Si States of America, and to modifications or improvements suitable to India. Colonial planters will easily deduce from them what plan is best adapted to their particular case. The main heads of the subject are as follows : Soil.—Generally speaking, assuming the presence of favourable climatic conditions, any light sail, as learns and sands, is suited for cotton-growing. Stiff clays, and wet soils, are ohjectionable, as any liability to retain stagnant water is fatally injurious to the plant. Very rich soil in a tropical region is apt to make the plants run to stalk and leaf, while the same would be advan tageous in a colder situation. Free drainage, with abundant facility for irrigation where rain is insufficient, may be taken as primary essentials.
Tillage.—Deep ploughing of the ground is absolutely necessary, to allow the tap-root of the plant to penetrate it to the utmost. In India, the limit to the depth of ploughing is commonly
about 6 in., in America, 12 in., and in Guiana, 18 in. It is certain that great benefit would arise from stirring the soil to a depth of even 30 in., the increased penetration of the roots rendering the plant much more independent of drought, and other external influences. In the S. States, the preparation of the land commences in November, and continues until March-April, when the sowings take place. The land having been ploughed and harrowed down, is then again ploughed, and thrown into ridges or beds, about 10 in. high, and 2-21 ft. broad, the tops being neatly levelled or smoothed by a one-horse implement, termed a " sweep." Sowing.—The sowings are made as early in the season as the frosts will allow, in order to get all the land planted in good time, and to have the crop in as forward a state as possible. In this, however, there is always more or less risk, for late spring frosts may come, and all the young plants may be cut off in a single night, entailing the necessity of resowing the whole of the fields. The best sowing season in Western India appears to be after the first heavy rains of the S.W. monsoon.
The manner of sowing varies according to soil and locality, and according to personal ideas. Thus, the distance of the rows, from centre to centre, ranges from 5 to 7 ft. in America, and averages about 3 ft, in India; and whilst some deposit the seed in furrows opened by a light plough, others carefully dibble in the seed at exact distances apart. This latter method is considered much superior. Tho beds having been formed, a gang of men (each taking a row) proceed rapidly along them, striking their dibbles into the centre of each, at exact distances of 12-24 in. apart. A second gang (generally women) deposit 4-6 seeds in each hole or indentation made by the dibbles, and a third gang (generally young boys and girls) follow with light hoes, and cover the seed with soil, thus oompleting the operation.