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I fully agree with the recommendation not to ratoon cotton over 

 the first year, having observed serious ravages on young cotton 

 from caterpillars derived from old plants that should have been 

 destroyed at the end of the year. 



The gist of the matter to my mind is as follows : — 



(1) Plant the cotton at the natural season, so that rains may 



keep it growing until it has attained size and then dry 

 weather will follow for the crop. Cotton planted late is 

 stunted and unhealthy. It is very subject to fungoid 

 disease and is severely attacked by caterpillars. It is 

 very apt to ripen seed prematurely so that when the rains 

 come the seeds germinate in the green pods and the 

 whole contents turn black. I am speaking from per- 

 sonal observation here of a large area planted late with 

 the above result. 



(2) Cotton planted at the right time will ripen in about 5 



months and if the old plants be trimmed back, a second 

 flush will follow and a picking of second crop cotton be 

 obtained so that the whole can be cleared off the ground 

 in II months. I consider that it is very desirable to 

 uproot the old plants and having gathered them into 

 heaps to burn them, so as to destroy the eggs, cater- 

 pillars and cocoons of the cotton worm. The land can 

 then be prepared for the next planting. 



Local experience as to corn planting seems to be a safe 

 guide as to the correct time to plant cotton. This 

 permits of a narrow margin and must be strictly complied 

 with if failure is to be avoided. 



(3) Under these conditions, I think the lands in Vere and St. 



Catherine where cotton has grown well this year would 

 grow it in continuous annual crops for a long period of 

 years without rotation of crop. 



(4) With reference to rotation crops for cotton it must be re- 



cognized that corn (maize) does not pay to grow in the 

 plains. Leguminous crops can only be grown as snatch 

 crops. Tobacco can only be grown on a limited area 

 owing to the great demand for labour — Further, tobacco 

 barely pays expenses in Jamaica. 



Cassava would do admirably, but here again there 

 must be a factory on hand to deal with it. I have been 

 trying to establish data as to the cassava industry and 

 there is no doubt it would pay even better than cotton. 



Under present conditions, I think cow-peas might be 

 planted between the rows of cotton after the first crop 

 and be ploughed in when preparing for the new planting. 

 It should be remembered that our cotton land N.W. of the 

 irrigation area in St. Catherine and the light lands in 

 Vere are practically virgin soil and very rich in fertility. 

 Ten crops should not exhaust these lands. 



