Jap Cotton-growing in New Guinea
p. 21 · Read in the full issue
New Guinea
IAM of opinion that there is a Japan ese settlement in Dutch New Guinea where they have been growing, and shipping to Japan, the best wool like cotton, that was first discovered by Rev. James Campbell. He cross-bred Sea Island and other cotton plants, until he found this wool-like “Caravonaca”, as he named it. He started a small plan tation to grow this cotton in North Queensland.
When they heard of this wool-like cot ton, with a curl in it, wool-growers objected to its being produced, as it might damage the great sheep-wool industry.
I got a few seeds from the Queensland Seed Bureau, which I planted. When the plants matured, in the wet season, I flooded one, and kept its roots in water.
This did not kill it. I tested another one by fire, which burned off leaves and twigs, and blistered the trunk —thus proving that the plants were flood- and fire-proof.
All those trees planted by Rev. James Campbell, by some order, were destroyed.
One tree missed destruction, and this was the one I saw.
I believe that the Japanese somehow got that strain of cotton to their cotton growing settlement in Dutch New Guinea.—ROßEßT BRUCE.