To the Editor of the Norra-Cama Datty News."
Siz,—Being of a very reserved disposition I have never sought notoriety by presenting my views or experiences in the columns of your worthy paper, but, aa apparently there are some labouring under a wrong impression, I avail myself of this opportunity to present actual facts to the cotton trade in general regarding the source of the malpractice of cotton adulteration. My main reason for coming forward as I do is, should the Central Gove-n-ment some day wake uy to the occasion, to enable it to get at the proper root of this vice.
Having noticed that your recent correspondents put the watering of cotton at the door of the middleman, I find that, in justice to the majority of them, I must contradic this statement, in that the adulteration takes place only at the hands of the upcountry ginners. There may, perhaps, be some exceptions, but the percentage of the middlemen who engage in such malpractice is so infinitesimal that it serves only te corroborate the fact aforestated in connexion with the up-country ginners or, in other words, that if there are any exceptions at all, such would only tend to prove the rule.
Some might argue that if the middlemen would not buy heavily watered cotton marketed by the up-country ginners, this evil practice would be immedi eliminated. Such argument, however, I cannot follow for the simple reason that, matter of fact, all the Chinese owned mills, as well as "ome Japanese mills which are not members of the Association, have to take the best part of the brunt of the accusation for the simple reason that when these mills buy to cover their re-
prices firm up, the middleman, who quirement: especially so when The British Cotton-Growing Association has established Banks in Egypt, so as to enable the planter to obtain financial assistance on reasonable terms and thus reap better profits. Why not in Chinat Next, the carrying out thorough survey of the existing varieties to get a better idea of the selection of the plant most suited to the district with a view to its subsequent improvement, and also a scientific method of ridging, planting and thinning out plants, etc., and I am sure, as your oorrespondent Mr. Widler says, we should soon see 8 decided improvement, Tam, ete, ce. K.
Shanghai, March 23.
P.S.—A good article needs no adulteration. as his neighbours do by buying whatever is offered. This cireumstance encourages the up-country ginner and gives him an inside view of the general strength of the market and, of course, on every rite in the market ho edda thet much more "'aqua Huangpu" to the cotton.
As the first watered cotton As sociation was formed some fifteen years ago, of which I was appointed Honorary Inspector, I can speak from personal experience; also since my first handling of cotton, which goes back some eighteen years, having been, I may say, the first foreigner who had direct dealings with the farmers in the cotton growing districts, and my connexion with the Association from that has afforded me ample knowledge
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.