109 



In all these districts cattle are generally kept, and in St. Eliza- 

 beth horse-stock also. In the sugar cane districts it is not likely 

 planters will grow cotton on the best sugar cane lands, nor even 

 when about to fallow the land from cane put it under cotton for a 

 season. They will require to find out by experience whether cane, 

 cotton, then cattle to feed down the old cotton stalks, then cane 

 again will work well in the results from the first crop of cane 

 after cotton. 



If cassava was a commercial product for starch-making on a 

 commercial scale, as it may be, cassava, cotton, guinea grass and 

 live stock would form a likely rotation. As it is, in stock-rearing 

 parts, such as the savannahs of St. Elizabeth, I can only suggest 

 small fields of cotton grown for a year, corn and peas (when sea- 

 sons allow, and which favour the spring of grass) six months, gui- 

 nea grass and stock for two years. It is no use suggesting guinea 

 corn grown on a large scale — it seldom pays, though small plots 

 are useful. Cotton might form a useful catch crop planted through 

 bananas, coconuts or orange trees to fill up in most districts, 

 whether under irrigation or not. It is being tried. 



John Barclay. 



The Commissioner of the Imperial Department of Agriculture to the 

 Director of Public Gardens and Plantations. 



Barbados, April 6, 1905. 



Sir, 

 In continuation of my letter J. 589 of February 13, last, I have 

 the honour to forward, herewith, a copy of a letter received from 

 Dr. Francis Watts, in which he reviews the proposals put forward 

 by Mr. J. R. Bovell in regard to the rotation of crops for cotton, 

 and adds some suggestions of his own based on experience in the 

 Leeward Islands. 



2. It is proposed later on to prepare an article on the subject 

 for publication in the " West Indian Bulletin," and I would be 

 glad to receive any additional information that you could furnish 

 with special reference to the circumstances of Jamaica. 



I have, &c., 



(Sgd.) D. MORRIS. 



The Honourable Francis Watts to the Imperial Commissioner of Agri- 

 culture for the West Indies. 



Antigua, March 27th, 1905. 



Dear Sir Daniel, 



In reply to your request for a brief memo, on the letter addressed 

 by the Colonial Secretary of Jamaica to the Director of the Public 

 Gardens and Plantations on the cultivation of cotton and the ques- 

 tion of rotation of crops which accompanied your letter. No. A. 391 

 of January 30th 1905. 



2. In paragraph 2, of the letter referred to, it says, Where the 



