intended by the speaker. Upon the occasion in
question some useful information as to the
resources of other countries was contributed by
their several representatives; but, before noticing
any of the points thus raised, it will be as well to
refer to the report of Mr. Wanklyn upon the different
samples exhibited, which formed the foundation
of the discussion. The report was made at
the request of the Cotton Supply Association.

The cottons exhibited, Mr. Wanklyn tells us,
are, on the whole, of a quality more serviceable
than he expected to find them; and from many of
the countries from which we are likely to obtain
any considerable quantities, he believes that
a remuneration of sixpence in the pound would
be sufficient to encourage a revival and extension
of trade. Many of the countries, in fact,
which were formerly producers, will be able to
regain the position they have lost through the
competition of America, unless the latter can,
in course of time, again supply good cotton at
less than sixpence a pound.

Mr. Wanklyn makes his local references in
alphabetical order, beginning with the Bahamas.
These islands send seven samples, which are
generally of a strong and useful kind; as they
have cotton growing wild, and used to supply it
in great abundance, the trade will probably be
revived. Barbadoes sends a sample of beautiful
staple, beautifully prepared, superior to fair
Orleans; but Barbadoes cannot grow cotton to
any large extent without throwing sugar out of
cultivation; and sugar being the more profitable
crop of the two, not much is to be expected from
that quarter. Bermuda sends three samples; both
climate and soil are admirably suited for the
cultivation; and there is land lying wild and
useless in the island that, if cultivated, would yield
a million of pounds annually. Brazil contributes
a quantity of samples, many of them grown from
American seed, which the government have
obtained from the United States; and there is
also a Cotton Association established at Rio de
Janeiro, with the object of encouraging the
growth of the plant. It is a very remarkable
fact, says Mr. Wanklyn, that the cultivation of
cotton in the Brazils has increased considerably
since the importation of slaves was stopped;
and notwithstanding the increase, the value of
the cotton rose only eleven and a half per cent.
There is every sign that the cultivation will be
greatly extended, and that the discredit brought
upon Brazilian cotton—as upon Indian—by bad
preparation and adulteration, will be removed.
The Brazils have now the advantage of coolee
and Chinese labour. It is said that fivepence a
pound will pay the cultivators, and induce them
to extend their operations. The government
has improved many of the roads; and railways,
now making, will open up immense districts.
British Guiana sends some samples of useful
cottons, and might be made to revive the
cultivation if capital could be found for the purpose;
at present she does not export a single bale. In
Ceylon, the quantity of cotton grown is merely
nominal; some recently supposed to be exported
from that island, was only re-shipped thence,
having been grown in Madras. But the government
is encouraging the cultivation by grants of
land and other measures, and the trade may be
revived. At Ecuador, it is calculated that
cotton can be profitably produced at fourpence
a pound, but at present there is very little
grown. Egypt sends but a very small sample.
It is stated, however, that about three hundred
and fifty thousand peddans of cotton are
cultivated, and seven hundred thousand might be
grown with ease. About three million peddans of
land are available. A peddan is about equal to an
acre. France gives some good specimens from
Algeria and her other colonies. In Algeria the
government is making great efforts to encourage
the cultivation, but the cost is too great for
practical purposes. In the preparation of the
samples, the French are entitled to high credit,
and Mr. Wanklyn considers that we might learn
some useful lessons from them in this respect.
The samples from Greece are very fair, as far as
the cotton grown from American seed is
concerned; the native specimens, though well
prepared, are short and tender. A remuneration
exceeding sixpence a pound would tend to
promote an excessive cultivation. The best specimens
in the Exhibition are two bales from Hayti.
One is of twist and the other of weft cotton.
These cottons are of the exact qualities of which
Manchester requires two million bales each.
One bale is worth thirteen-pence and the other
thirteen-pence-halfpenny a pound. At Hayti,
the best cotton costs about eightpence a pound.
The land available is sufficient to grow three
millions of bales a year, but there is a deficiency
of labour, and the government have no capital
to import labour. Italy, Mr. Wanklyn considers,
deserves especial attention and encouragement.
It has many facilities for cotton cultivation—a
large coast line, extensive railways, present or
prospective, a great deal of available land, a
large population wanting employment—and the
tests applied, show that the commodity can be
produced, to a large amount, at from fourpence
to fivepence per pound. The government has
set to work in the most practical and direct
manner to encourage the cultivation, which will
probably be pursued on a large scale. The
Ionian Islands exhibit some samples, but the
staple is short and weak, and, whatever the
Ionian Islands may be able to do, it is plain
they can do very little at present. India
displays one hundred and sixty-six samples, upon
which Mr. Wanklyn reports at length. He
draws special attention to the specimens from
Dahree Ghazee Khan, Seeher, Ahmedabad,
Poonah, Broach, Coompta, Chingleput, Salem,
Nuggar Division, Dharwar, and Hinganghaut,
which are all grown from indigenous seed, are
all of a very useful and serviceable character,
and are all very superior to the qualities
generally sent from India. Those from Darjeeling,
Chota Nagpore, Singapore, Madras, and
Penang, are the produce of Sea Island seed; none
of them are of superlative excellence: that
from Penang is the best; the others are of
deteriorated length of staple, but are good