NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY MONDAY, MAY 20, 1929. THE EMPIRE’S COTTON

Northern Advocate, 20 May 1929, Page 4

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY

MONDAY, MAY 20, 1929. THE EMPIRE’S COTTON

Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper.

A cable message published last week announced that Dr. C. .T, Hcdley Thornton has discovered, or produced, a substitute for cotton, which is not “subject to the depredations of the boll weevil and can be grown In almost any climate or soil at one-fifth of the cost of growing cotton, and in its final form has more lustre and strength than real cotton.” This information will be received with much interest by all countries, but especially the British Empire, which produce cotton. Great Britain, during recent years, has

spent, enormous sums of money in pro--1 moling and fostering the growing of cotton in certain tropical countries of the Empire. This is made clear in a comprehensive report of cotton- | growing activities in India. Irak and jtlio Sudan which was recently dcliverj od by Sir William Himbury, managing j director of the British Cotton Growing j Association. Sir William Himbury J shows the very great efforts which are j being made in the Punjab to increase by irrigation the areas under cultiva-l tion. Several large irrigation schemes arc nearing completion, and it is expected that shortly in the Province named and the adjacent Native States no less than 20 million acres of new land will be made available for the cultivation of cereals, cotton, and other crops. The great Lloyd Barrage, at Sukkur, in Sind, which should be completed in two or three years, will add 5 million acres to India’s wheat, rice, and cotton-growing lands. The cotton of Northern India—where the American variety does not do very well —has lately suffered from tho ravages of a pest known as the white fly. Experts aud scientists who have investigated the (problem expect that by planting the seed at a time different from that usually selected, thus trouble may be overcome.. The plains of Irak are admirably suited to the growing of cotton. Irrigation is effected by pumping the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates. This is done by the use of large power (driven pumps as well as the primitive water raising methods which have served for centuries. Though no comprehensive and scientific scheme of irrigation has boon adopted, the Irak Government has evidenced its desire to assist cot-

ton growing in every way possible. King Feisal has-sot a good example by cultivating 2000 acres of cotton and other crops. To assist the thousands of Irak farmers who are trying to make a living in the manner indicated, Sir William Himbury suggests that .the Association should provide pure cotton seed, which apparently the natives lack, so that bettor crops, free from woods, may be raised. According to Sir William Himbury, Egypt is in a state of great prosperity. Plenty of money is available for the improvement of irrigation, which is so essential for cotton growing. The crops- of cotton are being annually improved hv supplies of good seed furnished by the famous botanist, Mr Dalis, F.R.S., and the Egyptian Agricultural Society, of which the King of Egypt is president. “In the Sudan,” says Sir Wm. Himbury, “I was most favourably im-i

pressed with tlit 1 grout cotton-growing scheme operating there, undoubtedly ono of tho finest objoot lessons in the world, which T should like to see copied in other potential cotton-growing countries.” Tho scheme referred to consists of the millions of acres irrigated by the waters above the groat Keuaar Dam. Tinder the guidance of British scientists and agricultural experts the Sudanese are using a yvstem of rotation of crops which is giving the best possible results. The effect is that the Sudanese have entered upon an era of prosperity such as they have never known before. In

view of the extent to which Britain

ha.-- embarked upon cotton growing—the object being to render her independent of the foreign grown article — the reported discovery of a cotton substitute is a matter of more than passing concern. If the substitute is as good as it is claimed to be, probably the natives of Egypt, Irak and India will turn to its cultivation. That however, is a matter for the future. Just now cotton is a valuable commodity, and it is very cheering to know that the British Empire is not only the greatest manufacturer of cotton goods, but is well on the way tf becoming independent of other countries for supplies of raw material.