Vol. III. No. 69. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



391 



COTTON EXPERTS IN THE WEST INDIES. 



As already mentioned in these jiage-s, the visit of 

 the Cotton Experts sent out by the jjritish Cotton- 

 growing Association has been greatly appreciated in 

 these colonies. 



The ari-angenients for the meetings of the cotton 

 growers in the islands where cotton was being grown 

 on a moderately large scale were entirely successful. 

 The only drawback was the limited time that had 

 been fi.\cd, beforehand, for the stay of the experts in 

 the West Indies. 



There can be no doubt as to the results that must 

 follow the sound practical advice given by Mr. Oliver 

 as to picking and preparing cotton for shipment. 



As likely to be of further service in this direction, 

 ■we quote the following extracts from an interview with 

 Jlr. Oliver published in the Barbados Advocate of 

 November 19 last: — • 



The advent of the two English cotton-spinning expert.s, 

 Messrs. E. Lomas Oliver and Itichard 8tanclitie, who have been 

 sent to the West Indies by the British Cotton-growing 

 Association to enlighten cotton growers in these colonies as 

 to tlie kind of cotton they should endeavour to produce, and 

 as to how they should treat it before shipment, has given 

 a great impetus to the new industry in those islands. The 

 information and advice, which these gentlemen have 

 endeavoured to disseminate far and wide throughout the 

 islands by the means placed at their disjjosal by .Sir Daniel 

 Morris, have been seriously taken to heart by everyone who 

 is either already engaged or intends to engage in cotton 

 cultivation, and if the present crop turns out as it is 

 expected, the area of cultivation will probably be very 

 considerably increased during the next season. There is no 

 denying the fact that for the short time the industry has 

 been started in these islands phenomenal progress has been 

 made, both in cultivation and in the quality of the fibre. 

 In several instances the cotton produced has been second to 

 none. It has held a high place in the English market and 

 is creating for West Indian cotton a reputation which can 

 be maintained only by unremitting etfort, careful cultivation, 

 and the selection of the best seed for propagation. These 

 points are quite manifest to those who take an interest in 

 the industry, and have been fullj' confirmed by the cotton- 

 spinning experts in their public utterances and emphasized 

 in a brief interview which a reporter of the Advocate had 

 with Mr. Oliver on the afternoon of Saturday last. 



' Since leaving Barbados we have visited St. Lucia, 

 Dominica, Montserrat, Antigua, St. Kitt's, and Nevis, 

 all within one week, spending from daylight to dark 

 at each island, and holding meetings, which were well 

 attended. We afterwards visited St. Vincent. The peoi)le 

 in these islands, I think, take a very keen interest in cotton 

 growing. They listened most attentively to all that was 

 said, and I think they are in earnest in the matter. 



'St. Vincent promises to be one of the largest cotton- 

 growing areas in the West Indies. The island is well suited 

 to the cultivation of cotton, and circumstances seem to 

 render it probable that cotton will be cultivated there on 

 a large and successful scale. I may say I saw a good deal 

 of that island. During our travels we examined some 

 excellent samples grown from Rivers seed. It is quite clear 

 from the samples shown me that the climatic conditions and 

 the soils of the West Indies are eminently suited to the 

 cultivation of first-class cotton. The general condition of the 

 croj) is excellent : and I hojie it will be brought to market in 



a better condition this season than it was last season. Of 

 course, the planters now understand the importance of not 

 picking the cotton until it is thoroughly ripe, and of not 

 mixing the stained with the jjcrfect cotton. They also now 

 fully understand th.it cotton must be [licked free from leaf, 

 chips and other trash, because when passing through the gin 

 these get broken up into small particles and damage the 

 ajipearance of the cotton in the eyes of the spinner. 



' The area of cultivation could be much increased 

 with safety, and our chances as cotton producers are, 

 I think, first rate. The West Indies seem to me to have 

 a great advantage over the Sea Islands of South Carolina, 

 because they have nothing to fear from frost. On the 

 other hand, the proportion of stained cotton appears to 

 be larger than it is in the Sea Islands. The question which 

 will eventually decide the fate of these islands as cotton- 

 producing areas will be : Which can grow it the cheaper; 

 the West Indies or the Sea Islands? If labour can be obtained 

 cheaper here than in the Sea Islands, the West Indies have 

 nothing to fear from conq)etition with cotton grown in those 

 islands, because from what I have seen you can grow as good 

 cotton as can be grown anywhere, (f the planters ivill only 

 ta/ce the trouble to do so. That they will take the trouble 

 I have no reason to doubt ; and I am convinced that they are 

 all capable men, for they have made wonderful progress 

 during the comparatively short time that the industry has 

 been started. 



'AH the crops that I have had the privilege of inspecting 

 were, on the whole, free from disease ; and where disease 

 has appeared the officers of the Imperial Department have 

 assisted the planters so jiromptly with advice as to remedies 

 that the disease has invariably been overtaken before it had 

 been able to make any serious inroad upon the crop. 

 I think, if the ])Ianters will follow the advice given by the 

 Department's officers, and will themselves exercise due care, 

 they will be acting on perfectly safe lines.' 



BRITISH COTTON-GROWING ASSOCIATION 



AND THE IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT 



OF AGRICULTURE. 



The following letter, dated October 15, 1904, 

 has been received by the Imperial Commissioner of 

 Agriculture from the Colonial Office : — ■ 



I am directed by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton to acknowl- 

 edge the receipt of j'our letter of the 6th. instant, enclosing 

 a copy of a letter from the Vice-Chairman of the British 

 Cotton-growing Association conveying the thanks of the 

 Association to the Officers of the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture for the assistance rendered by them in connexion 

 with the development of the cotton industry in the West 

 Indies. 



Mr. Lyttelton is very sensible of the valuable 

 services rendered by you and your Department in promoting 

 the cotton industry of the West Indies, and he has observed 

 with pleasure the appreciatory resolution which has been 

 passed on the subject by the British Cotton-growing 

 Association. 



I am to add that ]\Ir. Lyttelton notes with much 

 satisfaction the action of the Association in sending out two 

 of their leading members to the West Indies with a view to 

 establishing agencies for the purposes mentioned in your 

 letter, and he trusts that their visit may be productive of the 

 l;iest results. 



(Sgd.) H. Bertram Cox. 



