YoL. XVII. No. i-2', 



THE AGRICULTURAL 5EWS. 



277 



BRITISH COTTON GROWING ASSO- 

 CIATION. 



The one hundred and seventy.fourth meeting of the 

 « JouDcil of the British Cotton Gro^viDg Aiisociation was held 

 at the <)ffices of the Association, 15, (>oss Street, Manchester, 

 ■on Tuesday, August 6. 1918. 



In the absence of the President (The Right Hon. the 

 Earl of Derby, K.G.,) Mr. ..\}fred ■ Crewdson occupied the 

 Ohair. 



wisr AKRii.'A- The whole of the long stapled Ameri- 

 can cotton crop grown in the Zaria District, under the 

 ■Auspices of the Government Agricultural Department, has 

 now been marketed, and the actual returns in bales of 400 lb. 

 • each for the past five years are as follows: — 



Year 1918 1917 1916 1915 19U 

 Bales 855 433 121 24 11 



f hese figures show that substantial progress is being 

 Boade, but the returns for the past season would have shown 

 •even greater improvement had it not been for the unfavour- 

 •able climatic conditions. Some of this cotton has recently 

 been received in Liverpool, and has realized good prices. It 

 ■was pointed out that this type of cotton exactly meets the 

 rei|uLiements of the Lancashire spinners, and it is intended 

 to develop its cul.tivAtion as rapidly as possible. There has 

 been a .satisfactory demand for seed for next season's crop, 

 and practically all the long staple cotton seed has been 

 distributed in approved areas, in addition to large quantities 

 of the native variety in other districts. 



The purchases of cotton in l.agos to July 31, amounted 

 to 2,492 bales, as compared with 7,649 bales for the same 

 period of last year, 8,993 bales for 1916, and 5,108 bales for 

 •191.5. 



The purchases in Northern Nigeria to June 30, amounted 

 to 2,316 bales as compared with 3,652 bales for the same 

 period of last year, 10,386 bales for 1916, and 411 bales 

 for 1915. 



tir.ASiiA. The 191718 cotton crop was very disappoint- 

 ing, and only amounted to about 1 3,000 bales. Practically 

 the whole of the 1916-17 crop has now been shipped, and 

 the position is more satisfactory than appeared likely some 

 months ago. 



Owing to the lack of freight, and heavy insurance charges, 

 larger quantities of Uganda cotton are being shipped to 

 India than previously, and the returns for the quarter ending 

 ilarch 31 last show that 210,000 &■ weight of cotton, valued 

 at £17,500, was exported to the United Kingdom, and 

 1,251,633 ft), weight, valued at £104,303, to India and 

 Burma. IJmler present conditions India is in a much more 

 favourable position than this country as regards shipping 

 facilities and insurance charges from Kast Africa. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OP LOCAL INTEREST. 



■ iKE.NADA. Plant distribution during the month of July 

 -comprised: limes, 2,800: budded oranges, 70; budded grape 

 fruit, 64; grafted mangoes, 46; ornamental, 60; various, 2; 

 cuttings, 6: seed coco-nuts, 496; Cariiin coptkion seed, '; ft).; 

 'ither seeds, 2 packages. Mr. J. C. Moore, the .Superintend- 

 ent of .Agriculture, referring to staple crops, slates that lacao 

 is still blossorcing, and the crop promises fair; line trees were 



fruiting well, and crushing hi \ begun. There has been ui> 

 noticeable extension of the area under canes: some land has 

 been prepared for fall planting. There is a good crop of 

 nutmegs, with very high prices, inducing specu'alion by 

 shippers. Sea Island and Marie Galante cotton is being- 

 planted on some estates: at present about 200 acres are sown. 

 Thrips on cacao is reported prevalent in some localities. Spray- 

 ing with Nicotine- Bordeau.v mixture is in progress on several 

 estates, andthe Agricultural Departmentis assisting in various 

 waystocombat theoutbreak. The present Prize-Holdings Com- 

 petition is said to be the largest on record, there being over 

 700 entries. The weather in July was fair: several nights; 

 were gusty. Some planters complain of absence of needed, 

 showers. The rainfall registered at Richmond Hill was 1057 

 inches. 



ST. LUCIA. During the month of .July the following 

 plants were distributed: limes, 3,977; ornamental and decora- 

 tive, 36; vegetable seeds, 46, packets; ChirysalidOiarpus 

 lutesans, 2 ft). 10 oz. In regard to staple crops, the 

 Agricultural Superintendent, Mr. A J.Brooks, states that cacao 

 was setting, limes were good, and good growth was being 

 made in the cane fields; there was a steady exten.sion of lime 

 cultivation. Special attention was given during the month 

 to the eradication of love vine in the ( ,'aslries district. The 

 Lime Factory was working at full pressure. A self-feeding 

 carrier— an improvement on the one working at Oarenage, 

 Trinidad, —has been devised and erected at the factory. This 

 carrier keeps the mill fed without attention. Instruction in 

 connexion with the Cacao and Lime Prize- Holdings scheme 

 was continued throughout the month; good work is bein^ 

 done. The rainfall recorded at the Botanic Gardens, 

 Castries, during the month was 6-07 inches; at the Agricul- 

 tural and Botanic Station, Choi.seul, the record was 825 inches. 



ST. VINCENT. The Agricultural Superintendent, Mr. W.N. 

 Sands, writes to say that the ginning of the 1917-18 

 cotton crop was completed in July. The yield of Sea Island 

 cotton lint was equal to 914 bales of 360 ft), each, or an 

 increase of 105 per cent, on the output of 1916-17. The Marie 

 Galante cotton eijualled 106 bales of 360 ft), each, so that 

 the total crop of .otton for the Colony was 1,020 bales. 

 Cotton planting was continued during the month. At the 

 Experiment Station 14,368 cotton stainers were collected as 

 the result of an invasion on July 1 8. The weather during the 

 month was excellent — showery. The rainfall recorded at the 

 Botanic Station amounted to ir0>< inches; at the Experi- 

 ment Station the precipitation was 7-44 inches. Plant dis- 

 tribution included 10<) ft), of selected Indian corn. 



Accompanying the foregoing is a record of special work 

 of ortioers for the month of July, in connexion with the con- 

 trol of bush bugs and the cottcjn stainer. 



VIRGIN ISLANDS. Shortage of labour caused serious 

 inconvenience in carrying on the work of the Tortola Experi- 

 ment Station during the month of July. Plant distribution 

 consisted of 133 S». of cotton seed only. Mr. W. C. Fi.shlock, 

 the Curator, says that rain is needed for the newly planted 

 cotton; otherwise, the condition of the peasant cultivations is 

 fairly good. There is a considerable revival of interest in 

 cotton, and reports agree that a much larger area has beea 

 planted than for some years past. There is also a gratifying 

 display of interest in the planting of food crops. Worm eaten 

 cotton was observed at Virgin Gorda, but the damage appear- 

 ed to have been done by grass worms, and not by the true cot- 

 ton worm, which usually makes its appearance latu in ihe year. 

 The weather during the month was dry. Though rain fell 

 in measurable quantity on eighteen days, the total precipita- 

 tion was but 21-; inches, as compared with an averaae of 

 4*16 in;hes f<>r the previous seventeen years. 



