230 



THE AGRICITLTURAL NEWS. 



July 26, 1919. 



COTTON. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



The report of Messrs. Henry W. PVost & Co., on 

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the 

 week ended June 2S, 1919, is as follows: — 



ISLANDS. Since our last report of May 31, the limited 

 unsold stock has been in demand, iocludine; all grades, 

 resulting in the sale of alinoat the entire offerings of the 

 lower grades, and the larger proportion of the planters' crop 

 lots of Extra Fine. 



The buying of the planters' crop lots was principally 

 for export to France. 



The stock remaining unsold of the crop is very small, 

 leaving available until tlie next crop only some small lots of 

 the lower grades, and a few planters' crop lots of Extra Fine, 

 which are held at 82c. to 92f , f.o.b. and freight. 



There is no stock whatever of bright cotton classing 

 Fine to Fully Fine. 



Tlie sales made during the month have been on a 

 basis of : — 



Fine to Fully Fine, (S\ 60c to 63c , f.o.b. and freight. 



Extra fine, Qi 65c. , f.o.b. and freight. 



Planters' crop lots, Extra Fine, 72c. to 92c., f.o.b. and 

 freight 



OEORGIAS AND FLORiDA.s. The limited offerings have 

 continued in demand, taking all grades at advancing prices, 

 the buying being on account of the Northern Mills. The 

 better grades. Fancy and Extra Choice, are especially 

 sought after, but can be found only in a limited way, and 

 even then have to be bought along with a large percentage 

 of the lower grades. 



The business of the month may be quoted on the 

 following basis, viz: — 



Fancy, @ 60c., f.o.b. and freight. 



Extra Choice, fa 58c., f.o.b. and freight. 



Choice, 55c, f.o b. and freight. 



The market, however, is very firm, offerings small, and 

 factors a.skinn higher prices. 



The exports from Savannah since May .'il. have been, 

 to Northern Mills 1,204 bales, Southern .Mills 36 bales, and 

 from Jacksonville to Northern Mills 857 bales. 



c'Boi' ArivicES. From recent advices from the factors 

 and planters, we now estimate the acreage planted, viz: — 



In Carolina 20 per cent, less than last year. 



In (Jeorgia and Florida 25 per cent, to 30 per cent, less 

 than last year. 



The crop is reported to be in goud condition, but 

 everyone is apprehen.sive of the boll weevil, which has 

 alrcarly made its appearance in some sections. The damage 

 they may do will not develop until later on. 



The Government's report on acreage and condition of the 

 crop will probably prove to be our most reliable infor- 

 mation. 



N.I5. — (Jur next circular report will be issued early in 

 August, giving the Annual Statement. 



The Past Season's Cotton Crop, St. 



Vincent. — Mr. W. N. Sands, F.L.S , Agricultural Super- 

 intendent, St. Vincent, writes as follows : Ginning of the 

 191S-19 cotton crop was 430,980 ft), each. The returns 

 of the Marie (Jalante crop are not j'et complete, owing to 

 the export of seed-cotton to Carriacou, but the crop is not 

 expected to amount to 100 bales, of which 81 have been 

 purchased at the Government Ginnery. 



The Sea Island crop was the largest since the 1912-13 

 season. The actual figures of the heaviest crops hitherto 

 are as follows : — 



1910-11 515,237 1b. 



1911.12 487,116 ft. 



1912-13 443,878 8). 



The smallest crop was in 191617 when the yield 

 was 160,168 ft. only. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



.ST. VINCENT. :\rr. W. N. Sands, F.L.S , Agricultural 

 Supsrintendent, reports continued dry weather during the 

 montli of June, which hindered the preparation of land 

 for cotton planting. Considerable difficulty was experienced 

 in establishing fields, which it is expected will result in 

 a late, and possibly a short crop. The Sea Is'and 

 cotton crop for 1918-19 amounted to 436,980 &. of lint, 

 or 1,214 bales of 360 1b. each, of which 682 bales were 

 shipped on June 25. The reaping of the sugarcane and 

 the manufacture of sugar were continued under good 

 conditions. From the Botanic and Experiment Stations the 

 following plants and seeds were distributed : 3 grafted 

 mango, 27 ornamental, 3 lb. cured cacao, 77 lb. pure bred 

 Sea Island cotton seed for farms. 



Special work of officers of the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment involved visits to the Mesopotamia Valley for the 

 purpo.se of inspecting lands offered to the Government for 

 Land Settlement ; also visits to the cot' on districts and 

 Land Settlement estates. At the Land Settlement estates 

 at (.'lare Valley-((>ue8telles, the preparation of land for 

 planting cotton nas been hindered by the continued dry 

 "tM,lii.r ."Some loV a.lo.teuj ^acceeJed, however ja 

 establishing their plots. At Belair the holders were 

 chiefly engaged in the application of stable mmure to 

 their ratoon canes and arrowroot plots. Small plots of 

 cotton have also been planted here. The cultivations on 

 the Cumberland T>and Settlement estates, chiefly ground 

 provisions and bananas, now supply local demand, and 

 are not exported as formerly. Observations on the 

 adult cotton stainer were continued with a view to ascer- 

 taining the length of time these could live in the absence 

 of regular food-plants!, and under natural conditions. The 

 Cotton Inspector was appointed to act as Manager of the 

 riovernment Ginnery and Granary from . I une 6, Mr. S. B, 

 Isaacs having been granted three months vication leave. 

 The rainfall at the Botanic Station was 488 inches • at 

 the Experiment Station, 4 23 inches. 



ST. LUDiA. Work of a routine nature was carried on in 

 the Experiment Station and Botanic Gardens during the 

 mouth of June, in addition to the removal of a few laree 

 trees in the Botanic Gardens to albw of the extension of 

 the lawns and flower beds near the centre palm circle. 

 Plant distribution included limes, 1,700 ; grafted mangoes 

 2; budded oranges, 12; grape fruit, 1 ; coffee, 516; oina- 



