130 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



April 23, 1904. 



addition it has been proved by experimental cultivation, 

 over several thousand acres during the past season, 

 that West Indian Sea Island cotton, when well culti- 

 vated and properly prepared, is of exceptional ijuality 

 and obtains high prices. 



If it should be sliown, after careful trial, that any 

 locality is found unsuitable to the growth of Sea Island 

 cotton, it may be regarded as likely to be unsuitable 

 for the growth of any cotton that will pay to cultivate. 

 The Upland cotton plant is admitted to be hardier 

 than the Sea Island cotton and it yield sa heavier crop, 

 but it is usually worth only one-half the value of 

 Sea Island cotton, and in the competition with other 

 countries, which will inevitably follow the high prices 

 now ruling, the cultivation of Upland cotton must 

 prove still less remunerative. 



Sea Island cotton, on the other hand, can only be 

 produced in a few localities and probably in no 

 locality more favourably than in the West India 

 Islands. As already indicated in these pages, it is of 

 the utmost importance that only selected seed of Sea 

 Island cotton should be planted for the next crop and 

 that the seed be disinfected beforehand. 



In order to control the attacks of the cotton 

 worm — the principal enemy so far met with in the 

 West Indies — it is necessary that for evei-}' acre planted 

 in cotton there should be obtained and kept ready 

 for use, at a moment's notice, 3 lb. of Paris green 

 and 18 ft>. of slaked lime. After the experience 

 of last season, it should be regarded as useless to 

 attempt to grow cotton unless the cotton worm is 

 entirely kept in check. The Paris green and lime 

 treatment has everywhere proved successful. 



The season for starting operations for the next 

 crop will soon be here. Already, selected seed of the 

 best Sea Island cotton sufficient to plant 7,000 acres 

 has been secured by the Imperial Department of 

 Agricultui-e. This, after being disinfected, will be 

 <listributed to growers at cost price. Those who 

 propose to plant cotton next season are advised to 

 consult the local ofKcers of the Department and after 

 making a judicious selection of land to begin at once 

 to prepare ami manure it. 



If the opinion of the Department were to prevail, 

 only capable and experienced planters would be 

 advised, at present at all events, to embark in cotton 

 growing. It is not desirable for amateurs or persons 

 without means to attempt a cultivation of this 

 sort. The .safer coui-se, for all new industries, is for 



them to be taken up by skilled agriculturists and 

 carried on in a s^'stematic and careful manner, so that 

 the results attained may be published for the informa- 

 tion and guidance of the general community. 



In view of the full and clear statement of facts 

 res])ecting cotton growing in the West Indies contained 

 in the recently published number of the Wist I nil'uiii 

 Bulb'tii) (Vol. IV, no. 4), no intelligent jilanter shoulil 

 be in doubt as to the conditions necessary for 

 establishing a successful cotton industry. All who 

 ])ropose to plant cotton are recommended to study 

 carefully the hints given in the work above referred 

 to, and it is urged in the interests of all concerned 

 that experiments with cotton growing in the West 

 Indies be undertaken by the leading and more 

 experienced planters in order that during the coming 

 season it may be definitely and authoritatively 

 ascertained what are the prospects of a cotton industry 

 on a large scale as compared with sugar, cacao, fruit 

 and other well-established industries in these colonie.s. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Demerara Seedling in Hawaii. 



The Demerara An/os)/ of April (i has the following 

 reference to the success that has atteniled the 

 cultivation of Demerara seedling cane No. 117 in 

 Hawaii: — 



At the usual meeting of the Hawaiian Sugar I'lanterV 

 Assoiiation, when reports were received and coii.siJered fnjin 

 the various conunitteeson the work for tlic year, Mr. Eekhai't, 

 Director of the Experiment Station, in discussing the 

 merits I if the different cane varieties, wrote: 'For irrigated 

 plantations, Demerara seedling Xo. 117 is, in my opinion, 

 the most iiromising variety, as at the experiment station field 

 it easily leads all tlie other canes. On one of the Oalui 

 plantations, where it has been tried in comiietition with 

 Striped Singapore, Tiboo Merd, Rose Bamboo, and Fiji 

 Puriile, it yielded from a ton to a ton and a half more sugar 

 to the acre than the other varieties. It is a rather grassy 

 cane, that is characterized by thick stooling, giving hesivy 

 tonnage per acre, and by juices of rather low purity except 

 witli ratoons, when purity is good. Louisiana Striped has 

 been i)lanted on tpiite a large scale (about 1-5 acres, I think) 

 on one irrigated {ilaiitation and dees very well, that is, fully 

 as well as Lahaiiia. It flowers earlier and more generally 

 than Lahaina or Rose Bamboo.' It was pointed out in 

 idurlusion that the cultivation of cane on cane land in 

 Hawaii is practically continuous and that while burning of 

 trasli and leaves is general, it is the exception and not the 

 rule to rest the lands, or to greensoil them by the cultivation 

 of leguminous plants. 



