has been done to do away with native prejudices; and to induce the Indian growers to use the improved gin for cleaning their cotton. By late advices we are informed, that the Bombay dealers begin to regard the new gin much more favourably than they had formerly done; and that during the past year a considerable quantity of cotton was cleaned by it, which invariably sold for ten to fifteen rupees per candy, above the price of similar cotton cleaned by the native churka. "This," observes our Indian informant, "will be sure to have its due weight with the native dealers, even if no consideration for the English consumer could induce them to use the better rather than the worse machine." We may surely hope soon to see the gin in general use for cleaning native cotton, and the old clumsy churka laid aside as useless. Since the year 1848, upwards of one hundred gins have been sold to cultivators and dealers; these gins containing from seven to twenty-five saws each. The cultivation of New Orleans cotton is fast increasing in Dharwar. In 1850, the extent sown with this seed was fifteeen thousand acres ; and there is reason to believe that the quantity of the seed sown this year will cover upwards of thirty thousand acres; more than double the quantity of last year. It is estimated, that the produce of cotton from New Orleans seed within the Dharwar district, will probably be about 3,300 candies of (we believe) 7 cwt. each; but as a good deal is planted in the Mogulee, and in the adjoining Madras territory, the amount forwarded from the districts in 1852, will perhaps reach 4,000 candies. From other sources we learn, that efforts are now being made to extend the culture of New Orleans cotton in other districts; and that a planter has been appointed at Sattara, another at Surat, and a third at Ahmedabad, the district in which a M. Goldie, many years since, succeeded in growing Bombay cotton; in which, subsequently, Dr. Burns picked some seed amongst the hedges of what had formerly been M. Goldie's plantation; and from these seeds grew some excellent cotton, which was approved by the Bombay Chamber of Commerce. Indeed, it was the growth of this cotton which subsequently led to the employment of Dr. Burns at Barsach.* Let us now revert to other matters connected with this interesting subject. In 1764, five years before Arkwright took out his patentthough whether Arkwright ever invented anything in his life, or whether he only made use of other people's inventions, has been matter of doubt the quantity of cotton imported, from other quarters of the • Indian Cotton Report, January, 1851. globe, into England, was not quite four millions of pounds; but in 1834, the consumption was nearly three hundred and twenty-seven millions of pounds. Botanists have described many species of the cotton-plant. Dr. Rhor speaks of thirty-four distinct kinds; but I will not detain my readers with a detail of each. The species most cultivated may be enumerated in few words, they are the Gossypium Indicum; Gossypium vitifolium; Gossypium hirsutum; Gossypium religiosum; and the Bombax ceiba; or silk cotton tree. The Gossypium herbaceum, is the plant most commonly grown. It is an annual; rises to the height of about 18 or 20 feet; bears a large yellow flower with a purple centre; and produces a pod about the size of a small lime; which pod, when ripe, bursts with a crackling noise, and exhibits to view the white cotton in which the seeds are imbedded. The saw gin is used to separate these seeds, &c., from the cotton. We have two varieties of the Gossypium religiosum, or, as Lamark calls this species, Gossypium tricuspidatum. They produce two different coloured cotton. One of these is extremely white, and the other is of a yellowish brown. It is from the last, that the well-known nankeens are made in China. This variation in colour is thought to depend upon the peculiar nature of the soil in which the shrubs are planted. When first imported into this country, and indeed for many years afterwards, the nankeens were suspected to be dyed, and a story is still told of the European merchants requesting that some of these fabrics might be dyed a deeper colour than those sent home. The fact was, the Chinese had made the last lighter than usual, in consequence of a great and sudden demand, which obliged them to mix the common cotton with the yellowish brown. The most valuable cotton imported into England is what is called" Sea Island." The Persian cotton is also greatly celebrated. A very beautiful cotton has been brought from Honduras, by a gentleman who was anxious to have the opinion of some scientific men respecting its value. This cotton was gathered some years ago in Honduras, where it grows wild; and though wanting cultivation and care, one parcel of it is so extremely beautiful in colour and long in staple, as to be worth, in the opinion of those who understand such matters, something like one shilling and sixpence to two shillings per pound, and to be fitted for the manufacture of lace. It is the produce of Sea Island seed. Could we grow such cotton as this in India—and there appears to be no reason why we should not-how independent it would make us of America and other foreign states! The cotton world has long had its eye turned upon India, and its millions of acres, that now lie almost idle beneath a tropical sun. Towards the close of last year, the Chamber of Commerce in Manchester, assisted by the manufacturing interests of Lancashire, Cheshire, and Lanarkshire, made a move by sending out Mr. Alexander Mackay, as their Commissioner of Inquiry, to "investigate the capabilities of India for producing cotton." That his report will be satisfactory, so far as soil and climate go, can scarcely be doubted; for in India all climates and soils may be had for the seeking. If Mr. Mackay be assisted by the servants of the Company, and if means be afforded him to pursue his labours without interruption, the "cotton lords" feel certain, that the result will be a more extensive and systematic cultivation of this plant in our Eastern possessions; and that we shall thus secure a regular and adequate supply of this valuable and indispensable article from a country that has hitherto only benefited the few. The cultivation of cotton is about to be introduced into Caffre land by the emigrants who have lately arrived at the Cape of Good Hope. Most heartily may we wish them, and all others who will turn our colonies to good account, every success in an undertaking so worthy the spirit of the age. It would be difficult to say when cotton was first used as a covering by man. It was found at the time of the Spanish discoveries, both among the Mexicans and the Peruvians; and may have been in common use centuries before that period. Cotton trees have been found growing on the Himalaya mountains at an elevation of four thousand, and on the Andes at nine thousand feet above the level of the sea. Mr. Chapman, in his "Commerce and Cotton of India,"† estimates the present native consumption of cotton in India at from 1,000,000,000 lb. to 3,000,000,000 H. annually; while the export to Great Britain is only 60,000,000 fb. and to all the world, only 150,000,000 Hb. That we are still far behind the Hindoos in the manufacture of some cotton fabrics there can be little doubt. I have before alluded to the exquisite productions of the Dacca looms; and pieces of muslin have been brought to this country from India spun and woven in so fine a thread, that with all our boasted mechanism we could not produce its equal in texture. The late Sir Charles Forbes, a gentleman long connected with Indian affairs, had in his possession, pieces of native muslin which he delighted to exhibit to his friends, so fine, as to be scarcely visible when held up against the light. I trust that the above observations may prove acceptable to some of my readers. Cotton has had a wonderful influence over the destinies of our fellow-creatures; and the rise and progress of some of our largest towns may be attributed solely to this one article of Author of "The Western World." + Just published. manufacture. Hundreds of thousands of persons in Great Britain are at this moment dependent upon the loom for their daily bread. pay America annually fifteen millions sterling for six hundred millions of pounds of cotton; but the day I trust is not far distant when America will have to look out for other customers, and when Guzerat and the Deccan will supply all our wants. It was the sultry hour of noon when we arrived at the traveller's bungalow at Ahmedabad, the last of the Company's buildings of which I could take advantage; and very thankful I was to escape for a brief season, from the sun and dust, and from the dreadful jolting of a conveyance that had been gradually becoming the worse for wear. (To be continued.) THE CROW N. Lam. v. 16, "The Crown is fallen from our head;" 2 Tim. iv. 8. "There is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness." A CROWN of pure and Heavenly light A blessed Crown, too fair and bright A Crown of beauty, rich and rare, It shone with precious gems of love, With joy's bright radiance gleam'd; With gentle lustre beam'd; Where is that Crown? each earthly thing The birds, that soar'd on rapid wing, And mightiest creatures sprang to greet Where is that Crown? 'tis fallen low; Oh! we are stricken down with woe, Let sinners bow the drooping head, Oh! faint is every guilty heart, Ay, Sinner, weep!-the Crown is gone! Too bright for mortal eye to see, 'Tis treasur'd up in Heaven for thee. Behold, the great and glorious One Hath stoop'd from Heaven above! And glorious is our Heavenly Crown, In lustre clear and high; A golden light is o'er it thrown, The light of victory; And never can they cease to shine, Those rays of righteousness divine! No! the bright Crown shall never fall BERTHA. |