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   GIUSEPPE DETIXCIKZI
   The question The actual Cottou question may be expressed is dotìned tbe demand, « What are the countries which
   in future, will be capable of producing the raw Cottoli required by our present civilisation? » The opportu- ,jp to the present moment no other Cottou roDghJyf was known, in general commerce, excepting that dyingit gathered in tlie United States of America aud
   in a few other oountries. Now, it will suffice to cali to mind that some forty-eight countries, in ali parts of the world, have sent raw Cotton to the International Exhibition of 1862, and that from almost ali the Commissioners of these States I have been able to collect most valuable information. Rare opportunities, moreover, were supplied by the inquiries made, at the instance of the Manchester Cotton Supply Association, in the Exhibition, and by the conference held in London on the 13th August of the present year, by that deserving association and ali the Commissioners representing the countries where cotton is, or cau be, cultivated. Finally, the publications recently issued to clear up this very serious question are infinite in number. From ali these sources I have derived a conviction of the im-portance of fostering the cultivation of cotton in Italy. I ougt not, at the same time, to refrain from observing that, but for the studies and inquiries made by the Koyal Comniission previously in Italy, I could neither have been able myse to affirm this conviction, nor to communicate i to the public, nor would it be now ioW ^ to submit to you this great questo^ » ^^ to Italv, with any
   practicalanarean !T - ^
   For these resulto my grati tode Kxb,
   many Sub-committees of the Interna^ marked bition, to severaleminentagr^ to^s ^ cut by them to co-operate w.thjh ^ a feW
   mission in their researches, and