To the Editor of the "Norra-Cmxa Darr New Siz,—In your communicated" article in this inorbing's issue under the above heading, an attempt is made to inform your readers exactly on this vexed subject watered ext, so that hereafter the "man in the street" can understand and give his opinion upon it.
Ie is a pity that When you take the trouble to print an "inspired" article such a valueless one should be supplied to you. The footnote that you placed st the end of a letter, signed "Science" recently, could aitly be placed at the bottom of this article, Tt i: written by a man who does not understand the subject. He probably has a slight smattering, and in granting him the probability, it is yoing a long way towards Doing charitable.
China cotton does not contain more than 8 per cent of natural moisture. Artificial moisture is given it, both native hand-ginned and seed cotton, by exposing it to the dew of heaven. The native ginned article is also treated to a c"pious supply of water according to the fluctuations of the market, and the percentage made greater or less as the demand may be. Tt la possible to see shops where this is done at the collecting c-tres in the country, and also in cotton shops on the outskirts of the Settlement. At any cotton shop where a native is seen dressed in reddish-brown, he is engaged for the special purpose of watering. As a rule water is added warm as then the cotton will absorb more. For a man to state that because American cotton is press packed, therefore it is dry, is absolute nonsense. Tt is ary because it is packed dry. I have known Chinese cotton press-packed in Shanghai and sent. over to Japnny and literally require a pickaxes to open up the hale, probably containing 18 per cent of moisture".
Your correspondent's classification of cotton is amusing. There are at least different. staples produced in the vicinity of Shanghai. The classification given by him is only that given by Chinese to throw dust in the eyes of foreigners. The cotton
ona proper basis, but it will be a matter of business here is being organised and put time. he initial difficulty is to persuade the unsophisticated native that exposing the cotton to the dew is adulterating it. Once this question of artificial moisture is settled, then the correct grading of cotton can be commenced, and it can be classed in certainly 4 classifications. Chinese have always succeeded in deceiving foreigners, but is rather startling to hare a special contributor adopting the same tactics, unless, indeed, he has written with defect tive knowledge.
Tam, ete., 27th Jun
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.