io6 



the letter from the Colonial Secretary. An extract from the con- 

 cluding portion of the chapter is enclosed. 



2. It is probable that no system of rotation will be adopted 

 either in Jamaica or elsewhere unless it is in full harmony with 

 local conditions and provided its ultimate effects will be to pro- 

 duce the maximum amount of fine cotton at the lowest possible 

 cost. 



3. It will be necessary to work out a rotation not only for Ja- 

 maica as a whole but for each district of the island with due 

 regard to the character of the soil, amount of rainfall and the 

 requirements in regard to other industries. 



4. The only effective way of arriving at a satisfactory rotation 

 will be to carry on experiments in association with one or two 

 leading planters in each district. The Board of Agriculture might 

 be able to arrange this and tabulate the results. As you are 

 aware, theoretical recommendations in a matter of this kind have 

 no appreciable effect on the practice of cultivators in the West 

 Indies. 



5. As a contribution to a study of the subject, I enclose a copy 

 of a letter from Mr. J. R. Bovell in which he offers recommenda- 

 tions likely to be of value. 



6. Later, when the officers of the department in the several 

 Colonies have had time to look thoroughly into the subject, have 

 carried out experiments and obtained the views of the leading 

 planters, it is probable that I may be in a position to advise fur- 

 ther in the matter. 



I have, etc., 



D. Morris. 



Extract from West Indian Bulletin, Vol. IV., pp. 294-295, on the rota- 

 tion of crops in the Sea Island districts. 



It seemed, however, to be the general experience, that the 

 growth of a leguminous crop every second year did not conduce 

 to a successful cotton crop, and that once in four years was as 

 often as it could be grown with advantage, — that is to say, the 

 rotation would be : first year, cotton ; second year, fallow ; 3rd 

 year, cotton ; 4th year, leguminous crop. When the leguminous 

 crop was grown it was sown between the rows of the old cotton 

 crop after a picking was finished. The crop grown is cow peas or 

 even garden peas for the market, which grow up and twine around 

 the old cotton stalks. It is then grazed by cattle and trampled 

 down, and the new cotton ridges are formed over the old hollows 

 where the leguminous crop had grown. The idea regarding the fre- 

 quent growth of a leguminous forage crop is certainly interesting. 



It is maintained that the quality of the fine Sea Island cotton 

 suffers, and that ripening is delayed and the yield diminished. 

 The interesting point to notice, however, is that although such is 

 maintained to be the case, yet nitrogenous manures, such as cotton 

 seed meal, &c., are employed for cotton. 



