Sotrei THE NORTIIEEN TERRITOKY 
 
 OF 
 
 SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 
 
 pPOIjT ON COTTON GljOWlNG. 
 
 The suitableness of tlie Soil and Olimate of the ^N^orthern 
 Territory of South A.ustralia for the Cultivation 
 and !Production of Cotton. 
 
 BY 
 
 THE HONORABLE J. G. JENKINS. 
 
 1Q05. 
 
 ADELAIDE: 
 
 C. E. BRISTOW, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, NORTH TERRACE. 
 
 1906. 
 
/ • 
 
 -T 
 
 o REPORT ON OOTTON GROWING, 
 
 T.O., 36-2/1906.] 
 
 Cotton Growing — So much has been spoken and written on this subject during the last few years that 
 it will be almost impossible to add anything entirely new. I shall, therefore, rather endeavor to arrange 
 mv matter into such a form and space as to be more easily referred to, and more applicable to considering 
 the subject from an Austrahan standpoint. In America, as elsewhere, before the war of 1860 the (;xpression 
 was often used that " Cotton is King " ; and it did then play a very important part in the world's commerce, 
 and has been growing in importance ever since. There are many who do not fully realise the extent " cotton" 
 played in forming public opinion in England during the American rebellion in the sixties. The declared 
 object of carrying on the war from the Northern States' point of view was to suppress slavery. Great 
 Britain, having abolished slavery in her own territories, might naturally have been expected to side with 
 the North ; but, on the contrary, with but few exceptions, her people sympathised with the South. When 
 the ports in the Southern States were blockaded, and the supply of cotton shut off from the English manu- 
 facturers, and the mills in England shut down, all Great Britain felt the loss, and the 2,000,000 people who 
 were said to be directly dependent upon these works suffered such privations and hardships that the slavery 
 of the South became a secondary consideration and their own preservation from ruin and starvation the 
 first. 
 
 In 1860 there were about 4,000,000 bales of cotton grown in the United States, while in 1864 there was 
 only 250,000 bales. Had the war lasted a few years longer Australia might to-day be a large producer of 
 cotton. 
 
 Towards the end of the war cotton was at fabulous prices, and attention was directed towards Australia, 
 India, Egypt, Italy, and other countries, where the soil and climatic conditions were thought to be suitable. 
 So soon as the war closed the United States rapidly regained her position as the greatest cotton-growing 
 country in the world. And to-day, out of the estimated world's production of about 16,000,000 bales, the 
 United States produces 11,000,000, India 3,000,000, Egypt over 1,000,000, and the balance from South 
 America, the West Indies, and other parts of the world. 
 
 But little attention was paid by the manufacturers to the growth of cotton so long as they felt fairly 
 certain of getting a supply, but what is termed the " Cotton Crisis " of 1903, and what led up to it, compelled 
 all the millowners of England to realise the position in which they were placed. The increased consumption 
 of cotton was much more rapid than the increased production. In the United States alone during the past 
 ton years the consumption has risen from 2,500,000 bales to about 4,000,000, while in Germany and other 
 countries there has also been a large increase. The shortage was first felt in 1901 and 1902, and the re- 
 stricted supply enabled wealthy speculators to practically corner the market in 1903, when cotton was forced 
 up from 5|d. per pound in November to 9d. per pound in January. The scarcity of the supply and the 
 fluctuation of prices compelled the manufacturers to put their employes on short time. Mr. J. Arthur 
 Hutton, Vice-chairman of the British Cotton Growing Association (with whom I have discussed the question 
 of cotton cultivation in Australia), states that " when the mills are placed on short time it is estimated that 
 no less than 10,000,000 people in England are more or less affected, and that the monetary losses to capital, 
 labor, and trade is nothing less than £300,000 per week, or £15,000,000 per annum." To prevent the possi- 
 bility of future restrictions and losses such as these, and to become less dependent upon the American supply, 
 led to the incorporation of the British Cotton Growers' Association, to which I shall refer later on. 
 
 While in the United States I made special inquiries relative to the growth of cotton in order to see if, 
 by comparison, Australia could become a cotton-producing country. I had a long conversation with Pro- 
 fessor Herbert J. Webber, at the Agricultural Department in Washington. He has made a special study 
 of plant breeding and of cotton culture in America, and I am indebted to him for some valuable information. 
 
 The time of my visit was too early in the year for me to see any cotton fields ready for picking. I 
 endeavored to gain what information I could about the likelihood of machine-picking superseding hand 
 labor, and although none of the machines invented for that purpose has as yet proved as successful in every 
 detail as was anticipated by the inventors, great progress has been made ; and ultimately, no doubt, perfect 
 success will be achieved. I look upon this as one of the greatest factors in favor of the profitable production 
 of cotton in Australia. 
 
 I shall not go into detail upon what country cotton is a native of, or a botanical description of the plant. 
 It is sufficient for all practical purposes to know that Alexander found it growing in India ; that Columbus 
 discovered it in the West India Islands ; and that the mummy cloths of Peru were made of it many centuries 
 ago. This goes to show how well adapted tropical and semi-tropical countries are for its natural growth. 
 I shall briefly refer to the suitability of Australia for its cultivation ; the necessity for proper care in ob- 
 taining suitable varieties ; its yield per acre in America, and cost of production ; if it can be profitably 
 grown in Australia ; why endeavors should be made to manufacture there as well. 
 
 From the samples produced in different parts of Northern Australia, from the reports of those who have 
 observed its growth, and from expert opinions, there seems no reason to doubt the suitability of Australian 
 soil and climate for its abundant growth. 
 
 Ideal conditions for the growth of cotton are said to be deep, mellow, rich soil, a warm steamy atmos- 
 phere, with an abundance of moisture until the " bolls " are well-developed, and a drier atmosphere while 
 the fibre is ripening and being gathered. According to reliable information our Northern Territory com- 
 
 pr'ses 
 
2 
 
 prises all these requisites ; in fact, that is now recognised everywhere. No longer ago than last September 
 the monthly magazine of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce said, " The Northern portions of Australia, 
 are capable of growing very fine cotton ; but the labor difficulty prevents development here at present." 
 Further on in the same article it again states, " There is no doubt that the Northern Territory of Australia, 
 is very' suitable for cottan growing; but unfortunately the labor laws, which preclude the importation of 
 colored labor, prevent development ; and until some arrangements can be made to alter these laws it is 
 doubtful whether anything can be done." 
 
 The opinions here expressed about labor are those held by the members of the British Cotton Growers' 
 Association, and for that reason their attention has been chiefly directed towards the West Indies, Africa, 
 and India. From those places it is expected that, under the auspices of the Association, about £300,000 
 worth of cotton will be grown this year. I will not repeat reports that have already been published in Ade- 
 laide upon the suitability of the Territory for cotton growing ; but I recently noticed a statement in a 
 London paper from Mr. John McDonald, formerly chairman of the Northern Territory Mining and Smelting- 
 Company, in which he says, " I grew cotton in Queensland many years ago. The Northern Territory is 
 more suitable for cotton growing than any other part of Australia I have visited. This is so particularly 
 on account of the rainfall season being suitable." From an article in the Financier of September, this year, 
 I take the following : — " The suitability of soil and climate for cotton growing in the greater part of Queens- 
 land, northern West Australia, and the vast Northern Territory of South Australia has long become placed 
 beyond all dispute. In the Northern Territory the cotton plant has disseminated itself without the assis- 
 tance of man, and may almost be regarded as portion of the North Australian Flora ; no less than seven 
 out of the eight known species being found in that country." 
 
 I have already referred to what is considered suitable conditions so far as soil is concerned for cotton 
 growing. The method of cultivation naturally varies in dilTerent countries and different climates, but it . 
 is generally considered that, owing to the long experience the Americans have had and the vast amount 
 grown there, that their system of cultivation is the best. The methods of dealing with different varieties 
 are not altogether the same in detail, but, generally speaking, they are alike. In the United States nearly 
 all the land is " bedded up " previous to planting. They claim that this is indispensable, especially where 
 manures and chemical fertilisers are used. The beds are raised from 18in. to 2ft. for sea island, but not 
 so high for upland cotton. The seed is then drilled in rows 4ft. apart, and when the plants are established 
 they are thinned out to about a foot apart. Planting takes place in America from the 1st of March to the 
 1st of June, according to the locality, and many " bolls " are open ready for picking between four and five 
 months after planting ; but all the cotton on the plant is not ripe at once, so the fields have to be gone over 
 several times to get the full crop. Cotton picking is one of the most important parts of cotton growing. 
 So far it is mostly picked by hand. The great bulk of the labor in America for this work is supplied by the 
 negroes, and the usual pay they receive is from 30 to 50 cents a hundred pounds of seed cotton. Expert 
 hands at this rate can, it is said, make a dollar and more per day ; but I was informed by Professor Webber 
 that the cost of labor would not average much more than 50 cents per day ; that would include other work 
 as well as picking. 
 
 According to a return furnished from between three and four thousand planters in 1901, the actual cost 
 of production per pound of lint cotton was put down at $5.78. It was stated that 2,600 of these planta- 
 tions were worked at a profit, and about 700 at a loss ; but statistics furnished by the growers are not 
 always reliable. 
 
 As previously stated several machines have been invented, in order, if possible, to cheapen the expense 
 of picking. Professor Webber informed me that he had examined several, and that one or two did their 
 work last year remarkably well ; but he did not think they would work on perennial cotton. The machine 
 which is considered nearest perfection is what is known as the " Lowry Cotton Picker." It is claimed for 
 this machine that it can — worked by a youth — do as much work as four and a quarter men pickers. It now 
 costs about £20,000,000 per annum for gathering the cotton in America ; the machines, if successful, would 
 do the work for about quarter that amount. This would mean a revolution in growing, and while it would 
 lessen the expense so materially where black labor is being employed, it would lessen it by a much larger 
 amount where white labor was being employed at a higher rate. To put it into figures, three good men will 
 pick an average acre of cotton in a day — say 6001bs. of seed cotton. The negro labor, at $1.00 per day, 
 costs $3.00 ; the machine would do it for a quarter of that, or .75 cents per acre. The white labor in Aus- 
 tralia, say, would cost $1.50 per day; three men to do the acre $4.50; the machine would do it for 
 one quarter, or $1 . 12J cents per acre. The difference in cost of hand-picking per acre between colored and 
 white is $1 . 50 cents per acre : the difference by machine is only . 37| cents. This margin might be made 
 up by the difference in cost of land. The value of cotton land in America varies from about £4 to £12 ; 
 probably a fair average would be about £6 per acre. In Australia the land can at present be obtained for 
 less than that many shillings per acre ; so if it was only the difference in the cost of picking (providing 
 machines can do the work) the difficulty with labor might be overcome ; but there is the general or con- 
 tinual labor of preparing the ground, planting, cultivating, ginning, &c., which must be considered. From 
 experts, reports about the productiveness of the soil for cotton growing in Australia the increased quantity 
 per acre, and the possibility in some places for two crops in a year, might act as a set-off against the cheaper 
 labor in America. The average crop of lint cotton per acre in America is only about 2001bs., while those 
 who claim to be authorities say that a much larger quantity per acre could be grown in Australia. 
 
 The necessity for securing the proper varieties and the best seed is demanding great attention with 
 American growers, and the Agricultural Department are doing much to assist them. In an able article 
 written in 1902 by Professor Webber, he stated that the average yield of cotton in the United States that year^ 
 on over 27,000,000 acres, was 1901bs. per acre of lint cotton, while on many large tracts where it is carefully 
 cultivated frequently from 500 to 800 pounds is obtained. He says, " The problem of primary importance 
 in the cotton industry at the present time is to increase the production of cotton per acre ; in other words, 
 more cotton should be grown on the same land. It is safe to estimate that the cotton crop could be doubled 
 on the same acreage as now grown by proper attention to the two factors necessary to success, namely, the 
 universal use of good seed and careful methods of tillage and fertilisation." 
 
 Now 
 
3 
 
 Now, if the Americans only grow half as much per acre as they should, it might be possible, with all the 
 up-to-date knowledge, for Australia, by the selection of proper seed and locality, to undertake the industry. 
 To grow on a very small scale would be a disadvantage : I do not mean by the individual grower, but in 
 the aggregate. The seed is now of great value ; it only requires about 7 per cent, for planting, and the rest 
 would be marketable at good prices if sufficient to start a mill or mills was grown. 
 
 According to the last American census the by-products of the cotton were worth .S80,000,00() that 
 year, or nearly a quarter of the value c^the entire crop. Just now I mentioned that I did not mean that 
 the individual grower need be on a large scale. In America there are a great number of small planters who 
 only grow from five to twenty bales each. Ten bales of cotton, at present prices to the grower, would bring 
 them about $400.00 and the by-products would be worth nearly $100.00 in addition. This does not 
 look very profitable, but they do their own work chiefly, and on the land grow other produce for home 
 consumption ; so they are able to have homes and live decently. If the industry is ever established in 
 Australia under present conditions I think it will to a great extent depend upon the small grower. He 
 would have a home to make and maintain, and would do his utmost to get the best returns from the land ; 
 and it is prettv well known that at least nine white men out of every ten will have a greater incentive to work 
 for themselves than for others. 
 
 The two general varieties of cotton grown in America are the Sea Island and what is usually known as 
 Upland Cotton. Of course there are many kinds of each ; there are said to be 50 or 60 di.stinct varieties 
 of cotton, all of which can roughly be placed under the Sea Island, Uplands, Peruvian, Egyptian, and Indian. 
 Only a small quantity of Sea Island is grown in comparison with the amount of Upland. 
 
 The manufacture of the cotton in Australia, if it is grown there, is a subject that should receive careful 
 consideration. Year by year the cotton mills are getting near the grower in the Southern States of America. 
 The consumption of cotton at the mills in the Northern States has, if anything, decreased during the last 10 
 years ; while in the South, right where it is grown, the amount consumed at the mills has increased three 
 or four times during the same period. Cotton manufacture in India is also on the increase. If Australia 
 becomes a cotton growing country it would save double sea carriage by making its own cotton goods, and 
 have the opportunity of assisting other producers : it would also be near the Indian market. Last year 
 (1904) the value of cotton yarns and fabrics exported from the United Kingdom was £84,000,000, and of 
 this amount £20,000,000 went to India. All this was grown in America, sent to England to be manufactured, 
 and then shipped to India for use. 
 
 Earlier in this report I have referred to different varieties of cotton. I recently wrote to Mr. Hutton, 
 with whom I had discussed the matter, asking him his opinion in reference to the best varieties suitable for 
 the Northern Territory. The following is an extract from his letter to me : — " It is rather difficult to sav, 
 without experimenting, as to what is the most suitable type of cotton for the Northern Territory. The 
 main varieties of cotton are — First, Sea Island, with extra long staple ; requires careful cultivation and 
 does not yield a large weight per acre : Second — Egyptian, fairly long staple : Third — American, ranging 
 from fairly long staple cotton down to cotton with fibre about an inch long : Fourth — Indian varieties, 
 generally of very short staple : and fifth — Peruvian, Carvonica, and other perennial types. You can see 
 that, with all these varieties, one can make innumerable experiments. I should think, however, considering^ 
 that the labor difficulty is, at any rate for the next few years, likely to be a serious one in Australia, that 
 there is no use in wasting money over experiments with short-stapled cottons which will only fetch a moderate 
 price in this market. On the other hand, it is doubtful, too, whether Sea Island can be grown successfully 
 and economically without very careful and skilled cultivation ; but it does not do, however, to be too 
 dogmatic about these points, and nothing but actual experimental working, at first on a small scale and 
 then on a large scale, can definitely prove one way or another which is the most desirable cotton to cultivate. 
 I should say, speaking off-hand, that probably something of the Egyptian type, or the best quality of Ameri- 
 can Uplands, would give the best results." Although several experiments have been made in the Territorv 
 on a small scale I think they should be carried out on a larger scale ; at least an acre or more of different 
 varieties might at once be tried, and the cost of everything noted, the product sent to England for valua- 
 tion ; then, if successful, it could be gone on with on a larger scale. The different varieties should be 
 planted sufficiently far apart to prevent any danger of hybridisation, so that the seed would be available 
 for further planting. 
 
 If it is the desire of your Government, I shall be pleased to try to obtain seed of different varieties for 
 the necessary experiments. 
 
 In dealing with the proposals for cotton culture in the Northern Territory, I have only dwelt upon its- 
 possibilities under existing laws, which would necessitate the employment of white labor. The cultivation 
 of cotton is not so trying to the laborer as the cultivation of sugar cane ; but whether white labor could 
 stand the climate, and perform the same amount of work as could be performed by negroes or natives of 
 India, I do not feel myself competent to judge. Opinions are so conflicting that it is a subject that might 
 be worth the expenditure of some money by the Commonwealth Government to thoroughlv test, as the 
 laws affecting it have to be made and administered by them. I do not wish to enter into what may be 
 termed debatable politics, but I cannot shut my eyes to the fact that the Immigration Restriction Act, with 
 the interpretation put upon it in Europe and America, is proving a great hindrance to the possibilitv of 
 establishing new industries in Australia and the further development of the country. I want to see Aus- 
 tralia settled by white races : and it appears to me that the less restrictions that are placed upon 
 suitable white settlers, the greater the likelihood of checking the agitation for the introduction of colored 
 abor 
 
 J. G. JENKINS. 
 
J