THE RESOURCES OF THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 222, 7 June 1918, Page 6

THE RESOURCES OF THE EMPIRE

TEXTILE FIBRES IN OVERSEA

DOMINIONS

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

(By Ernest Goulding, D.Sc. (Lond.), Imperial Institute, in the "Daily Mail.") t? n U X article on the Engineering Outlook in Africa which ho wrote last year Sir Harry H. Johnston, stales n ~■ i ly Mail in a foreword to Dr. Goulding's article, drew attention to the lmmensee value of tho' tacilities which the Empire possesses for I the production of textile fibres as one ot the great factors • in the future development of the Empire resources Sir Harry Johnston here evidently struck a note which has found a responsive echo in each of many widely-separated parts of the Dominions overseas. It is not, perhaps, usually recognised that next to agriculture, which remains the greatest (industry of this country as it is the most I important throughout the whole world, ; the textile industry is tlio most important of all the varied industries of the United Kingdom.' It may be truly said, indeed, that textiles represent the' foundation upon which the enormous overseas trade of this country has been built up. Tin,'in wliich the Thoenicinns traded with this country for many years, was ! doubtless the first important British export, but in modern times textiles luivo always occupied the firet position in our overseas commerce. Long before theinvention of the steam engine the excellent quality of our woollen fabrics-.had carried the fame of our weavers to many parts of the world, not only to Iheir great advantage, but to tho advantage of,our early shipbuilders and shipowners, and to the benefit of the country as a whole. The value of our exports of cotton manufactured for the year 1913 exceeded ■£127,000,000, tho value of our woollens was nearly».£3B,ooo,ooo, while other textile manufactures brought the total up to close upon ,£200,00,000, thus far exceeding tho value of any other class of exports from this country.■, It would be difiicult l» exaggerate the importance of the part which textiles thus play in the commerce and manufactures of this country, for we have- to remember that almost the whole of the raw material needed for this gigantic industry comes from overseas—the proportion which the country itself provides being trifling. Henco no manufacturing engineer in this country will over underrate tho importance of encouraging the cultivation of textile fabrics overseas, and particularly in the British Dominions. He knows that every additional plant grown means work for one or another of the many branches of his gieat industry, sooner or later, directly or indirectly. Wo are, therefore, glad to be able to present to our readers in the present issue tho first section of an article on "Textile Fibres," with particular reference to their cultivation in the British Dominions overseas, by Dr. Ernest Goulding, of the Imperial Institute, London. Dr. Goulding, who is one of the assistants to Professor Dunstan, the director of the institute, has made a special study of textile fibres, and is undoubtedly at this moment our first authority in this important,.branch of natural science. Dr. Goulding's article will, we believe', not only meet _the special needs of many of our readers, a number of whom have already written to us for information from widely separated parts of the world, but' will be *found of great interest by our readers generally.] • Textile Fibre*.

For the maintenance and continued development of the great British textile industries it is essential that ample supplies of the raw materials should bo 'available. The history of tho last few years has emphasised the danger of relying too largely on foreign countries for these products and has demonstrated tho need of increasing their production within the -Empire to the greatest possible extent.

On examining the statistics of the imports of fibres into the United Kingdom during 1913, the year preceding the outbreak of war, and which may therefore be regarded as a noimal year, we find that the quantity derived from foreign countries (which then included Egypt) amounted to, roughly, 96.7 per cent, of the total imports in the case of cotton, practically 100 per cent, in fhe ense of flax, and C 8 per cent, in the case of the various fibres officially classed as "hemp." In 1916 the corresponding figures were !)5.5 per cent, for cotton, nearly 100 per cent", for Hax, and 116 per cent, for "hemp." Jute, however, presents a striking contrast, practically tho whole supply of this fibre being obtained from India. . .

It ia the purpose of the present article to indicate the present position of; fibre cultivation in the various British j possessions and < Hie directions in which progress could be effected. iii tho case of cotton, which is by far the most important fibre from the commercial and industrial standpoint, approximately throe-fourths of the raw material required for Lancashire's great industry comes from the United States. This haa led to a very serious position, as the production in that country is declining, while the consumption in the American milh is'steadily increasing. To give an adequate account of the endeavours which have been mndoito -improve the supply and lessen the dependence of Great Britain-on the United Stateswould not be poss ; ble in tho limited space at our disposal, but reference may be made to the. excellent work which has been carried out by the British Cotton Growing Association and the Agricultural Departments of the British Dominions, Colonies, and Protectorates. Efforts hnve been made to improve the supply from Egypt, to increase the output of India, and to encourage the production thore of cotton of greater length (the varieties •at present grown in India being mostly too short for use in Lancashire, where the machinery is particularly adapted for spinning cotton of a length of one inch or more), and to develop the cultivation in other parts of the Empire. Although the supply at nresent obtained from British territories other than Egypt and India is still a very small proportion (roughly, 1 per cent.) of the total requirements of the United Kingdom, great progress has been made during tho last fifteen years, especially in the Sudan. Uganda,' Nyasaland, West Africa, and the West Indies. The Sudan. Tho exports, of cotton from the Sudan were only about SOS.OOOIb. in 1903, but the output gradually increased , until in 1915 the maximum export of nearly 9} million pounds was attained. With regard to tho future of cotton growing- in tlio Sudan, great hope is centred on tho possibilities presented by the Gczira, an extensive plnin situated to tho south' of Khartum and between the Blue and White Niles, which has an area, of about four million acres. The soil of this region is remarkably well adapted for cotton, and it has been proved that Egyptian cotton of excellent .quality can bo grown there. Owing t<v the low rainfall, however, irrigation is necessary. It has been estimated that, if suitably irrigated, the Gezira could furnish ns much as 100 million pounds of cotton a year. In 19U an elaborate scheme was approved for effecting the irrigation of this plain, which involves the building of a bnrrage across the Blue Nile, near Sennar, from which a main canal and a system of distributing canals are to curry tho water to land farther north. The British Government guaranteed the payment , of interest on a loan to bo raised by tho Government of the Sudan to tho extent of .£3.000,000 to be applied to this and other schemes for promoting the cotton industry. The excavation of the main canal was begun in 19H, but unfortunately at the commencement of the war it was found necessary to restrict operations and to postpone the construction of the barrage. In Uganda the. cultivation of cotton on a commercial scale was first undertaken in 1901, and in spite of transport difficulties and other obstacles the industry steadily and regularly increased until l:ho year ISI3, when tlie exports amounted to over IS million pounds of value .-ISSI.HG.

In Nyasaland also cotton growing has made vapid strides, the exports, which were only G!)2lb. in 1902, now amounting to about threo million pounds annually; *Uo maximum output took place- in 1910.

when over throe and a half million pounds were exported of value .£127,131. In the case of West Africa cotton has probably been.grown by tho natives for many centuries, but no laigo oxport trade existed except at the time of tho American Civil War. In 1902 the exports of cotton from British West Africa were only about 12,0001b., but thanks to the efforts of the British Cotton Growing Association great progress lias been made, and in 1913 the highest export yet recorded was reached, amounting to nearly G\ million pounds. The West indies. The history of cotton growing in the West Indies is of peculiar int;rest. The crop was cultivated extensively in the eighteenth century; during the years 1786-1790 no less' than 70 per cent, of the world's commercial sup'ply was obtained from' these islands, but subsequently the industry declined. During efforts havo been mado by the Imperial Department of Agriculture of tho West Indies to resuscitate the industry, and great success has been obtained. The cotton grown is of the finest quality the world produces, and the exports have increased from about 100,0001b. in 1903 to an annual amount of between 2J and 3 million pounds, the largest exports being those of 1911, which exceeded 3 million ponnds, and had a value of nearly JCIOO,OOU. ' The results thiis briefly indicated are full of hope for the future, and reflect the greatest credit on thoso who have acted as pioneers of the industry in the countries mentioned. Cotton is also grown, but to a more limited extent, in Malta, Cyprus, Rhodesia, the Union of South Africa, Queensland, Fiji, and Papua, and expansion may be anticipated in South Africa and in Queensland. In the latter country the industry is hampered by the high cost of labour for picking the cotton, but it is hoped that a satisfactory cotton-picking machine will shortly'be available which will overcome this difficulty. Flax. In connection wrcu.flax, it may be I well to recall the fact that the flax plant (Lmuiu usitatissimuni) is grown not viuy lur its nore, tint also for its seed, tlie well-known linseed of commerce, troni whicn tho valuablo linseed, oil is obtained. In European countries the plant is grown chiefly for its fibre, except in ltussia, where both seed and fibre aro produced. As n general rule the flax plant is grown tither for fibre only or tor seed only,, but it has been claimed,recently that it is possible to obtain both products satisfactorily from ono and the Bame crop. The finest kinds of Hax, such as the Irish end Belgian, are employed for the manufacture of linen fabrics, linen thread and lace, while tho coarser qualities, such as the Bussiaiy. are used for canvas, hollands, bagging, and twine. The chief Bourocfi of the fibre imported' into the United Kingdom Iwfore tho war were Kussia and Belgium, smaller quantities being derived from Holland, Trance, and Germany. The production oi itax 'in Europe has been, reduced to a serious extent owing to the war, and prices now are extremely high.' The present lime is, therefore, particularly opportune for the development of flax growing in British possessions, and it has already been ■conclusively demonstrated that the fibre can be produced with grrat success in several parts of the Empire. in the British Empire has or late been, confined to Ireland, where about 50,000-60,000 acres are devoted ttj the' crop, am'/ Canada, where the annual production of file fibro amounts to about i>oo tons. Considerable attention has recently been directed to the development of flax cultivation in Canada, where the plant is at present grown chiefly for linseed, and in 1916 the Dominion House of Commons passogl tEe following resolution: "That, in the opinion of this House, taking into consideration tho stability of the flax industry and the market value of tho product, more attention might bo given to promoting its cultivation in Canada; that the flax nnd linen Industry should, both as to culture and manufacture, .receive that encouragement : and consideration from the Government ! which would enable it to assume the im- ! portance that natural resources of our ', country assure it. And'to this end serii ous encouragement should be given to ! farmers by such means as the Governj nient, after full investigation, deem best . to increase the production of flax throughi out the Dominion.' , In accordance with : this resolution vigorous efforts are being : made to develop the industry. Experimental trials are iieing carried out on the Government farms, and small areas have been planted in various parts of tlie Dominion in order to tost the possibilities of the different districts. It has been found that excellent fibres can be produced in many places, and especially in the maritime provinces, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. A great development of flax growing in Canada j may. be confidently anticipated.

At one time (lax was grown in certain parts of Great Britain, and an 'effort is now being made to resuscitate the industry with the assistance of grants from the Development Commission. The crop is being cultivated at Selby, Yorkshire, where, the industry was carried on extensively in the past, and also near Teovil, Somerset, and a study is being mado of the best methods of retting the flax straw and preparing the- fibre. • British East Africa. During the last few years endeavours nave been made to ascertain whether Ilax could be grown successfully in Eritisii 13ast Africa. Preliminary trials proved no satisfactory that in ISII3 the services, of a flax expert from Cdurtrni, Belgium, were secured, and it lias since been demonstrated that fibre of excellent quality, approximating to that of the best Belgian flax, can be produced. Scutching factories hayo been erected, and it is probable tliat-'in tho forthcoming season some thousands of acres will be planted. It is/ expected that a rapid development will ensue, since all the work involved, except scutching, can be carried out by unskilled labour. Planters arc advised by the Agricultural Department to adopt a co-operative, system with regmd to the scutching factories, as the larger the factory the greater would he tho profit per acre.

I'lax was once an important crop in Egypt, but as the cotton industry expanded the area devoted (o flax decreased, and in recent years has not usually amounted to more than 1000 acres. The high prices lately ruling for the fibre, due to the disturbance occasioned to the Euronean crop by the war, have led to a revival of interest in flax culture, and in Win the area planted.k/reas'.'d to hourly 1500 acres, and it is probable that further extension will take place in the immediate future. The problems of flax production are being investigated by tho Ministry of Agriculture, jn'd .xperiments on one of the Government fawns have give.ii good resul*|. Trials on a fairly' extensive scale have been carried out in Bihar, India, and it has been proved that flax can bo grown and prepared successfully in that ngion at a profit in normal times'if rbout £1 per acre; planters have not shown any readiness, however, to undertake tho cultivation', and this is attributed to the yn'certainty of prices and to a disinclination to invest capital in a new industry. Experiments conducted in Victoria, New South AVnles, Out-nsland, and Tasmania has indicated that tho soils and climatic conditions of these c. untries are suited to the requirements of tl.e Pax plant and that the cultivation could probably be undertaken in -.ertain parts of Australia with considerable si'f.cess. Jute and Similar Fibres. ,Tu,te is one >f ths cheapest fibres and is used for tho manufacture cf ci-arse fabrics, such as sacking, licssjans, inexpensive e(i''»ets, sKtil inferior Muds of cordage. Almost tho whole cf i ho world's supply of this fibre is produced in India, whore the plant .occupies en area of about three million acres and irives an annual output of about one nhd a half million tons. About one-half of the total crm ir. ,o\v cnsnine'd in the Indian mills, the remainder being exported. KxiTK'imontnl trials have shown that jute "can be yrown successfully in the .Sudan .and in British West Africa. Attempts \n\-e been made to establish the cultivation in tht> latter country, but progress in this direction has been interfered with by the attention given to cotiou and other crops. Thorn nv<> a M-imliiM' nfplnnls, wppcinlly of the mallow family, which yield a •■■■ .. .v(?y vwi'.nr i-i iut" and capable of the same industrial applications. Anion!! t.lie«c inenlion may be made of the following: "China jute." derived from a species of Ahutilou, is cultivated extensively in China ivnd forms an article of export, The "Bimlipatam juto" of Ma-

. \ ■ dras, is produced by a species \>f Hibiscus, and is exported to tho United! Kingdom, whero it realises prices about, equal to those of medium grades of jute. Attention ie now being directed to the cultivation of this fibre in Souths Africa. Various species of Hibiscus occur in West Africa, and from one of these, growing in the . Northern Provinces, Nigeria, fibre has been produced' on a commercial scale. In 1508 and 190!) fairly large quantities of fibre wcro exported from the Northern Provinces, and it is believed that they consisted mainly or entirely of the product of this Hibiscus. The exports ceased, however, in 1910, and have not since been resumed. ~, , , Bxcellent jute-like fibres arc yielded by species of Sida and Triumfetta, which! are found in India, West Africa, and Nyasaland. The fibre of Urena lobata, a. plant occurring in India, the United States, South America, various parts of Africa, and other countries, also forms a useful substitute to jute. Tine fibre is known in Brazil as "Aramina" fibre, and is employed for the manufacture or, coffee-bags. The plant is also being prmvn for fibre in Madagascar and in Cuba.

These various fibres lfave not been exploited largely in any of the British possessions except India, owing chiefly to the fact that their extraction ie carried out entirely by hand, machinery nots having hitherto been successfully applied to this work, and demands considerable skill. In India the methods of pTcparing jute are well understood and ares handed down from generation to genera--tion. but in other countries the native.* would have to be specially trained _tn the work. Moreover, in British Africa "the crop is not sufficiently profitable to be attractive in comparison with other agricultural pursuits.