Vol. XVII. No. 417. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



119 



suitable quality, and in sutHcient quantity to satisfy the 

 requirements of the British cotton industry. This is the 

 problem which led to the formation of the British Cotton 

 Growing Association. It is an immense advantage that 

 a great deal of fundamental work in this direction has 

 already been carried out by the .Association, and they have 

 not only proved where and how cotton can be grown, but 

 also where it cannot be grown. Fourteen years ago the 

 Association realized the danger of the position of the cotton 

 industry, which is perhaps only now beginning to come home 

 to the minds of the whole nation. 



The problem the Association set out to solve was 

 whether the Empire could produce sufficient cotton to keep 

 British mills running full time, and so bring prosperity and 

 happiness to the millions who depend on the cotton trade 

 for their daily bread. Everything had to be learnt from the 

 beginning, and, as was only to be expected, many mistakes 

 were made, but the Council has never been afraid of owning 

 «p mistakes. As the results of the Association's work the 

 cotton crop grown under its auspices last year was expected 

 to amount to 100,000 bales, worth over £2,500,000. To 

 build up an annual turnover of £2,500,000 in fourteen years 

 is no small achievement, especially when the countle.ss diffi- 

 culties which had to be overcome are taken into consideration. 

 It is true that 100,000 bales is a small matter in comparison 

 ■with the 4,000,000 bales which are reijuired every year 

 by the British manufacturers. The Association, however, 

 has made a good beginning, and has acquired experience 

 which will be invaluable in efforts made to increase the 

 •cotton production of the Empire. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



of imported foodstuffs for a few months, after which 

 the situation will be relieved by local supplies. 



Further investigations were made with a view t> 

 determining the available fibre in samples of cotton. Samples 

 of fleshy pod and velvet beans were sent to the Governments. 

 Laboratory for examination for poisonous principles. la 

 view of the discovery of a new alkaloid in Datura MeU/^ 

 arrangements have been made for appropriating \h acres t>- 

 the cultivation of this plant. Observations are being made- 

 in connexion with silk-cotton trees that are now bearing pods. 

 At the close of the month no general infestation by cotton 

 stainers was noticed, although a few of the insects were 

 observed. The rainfall recorded at Grove Station for th* 

 month was -3-S9 inches, which fell mostly in the early part 

 of the month; the rainfall for the year was 12'94 inches, 



ANTIGUA. Mr. T. Jackson writes to say that during 

 March the following plants were distributed: onion plants, 

 1,900; miscellaneous, 9; and 5 packets of miscellaneous seeds. 

 During the month the weather continued to be dry, and 

 vegetation throughout the island has suffered intensely. Tha^ 

 canes that have been reaped are light in weight. Water had. 

 to be carted from the Country Fond to the Botanic Oardea 

 to keep pot plants there alive, the water main at the Gardea 

 having been shut off. Food became alarmingly scarce ati 

 one period of the month, and disturbances which culminated 

 in a serious riot on the 9th, interfered with the routine work 

 on estates. At the present moment, however, labour 

 conditions appear to be again normal. To date 44,7630). 

 of cotton have been taken over by the Government for the 

 Admiralty. Nine plots at Clare Hall have been rented by 

 the Agricultural Department for the purpose of growing 

 ground provisions. The rainfall recorded for the month, 

 was 2'05 inches; for the year, 4'62 inches. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



DOMINICA. During the month of Manh plant distribu- 

 tion comprised the following: lime plants, 1,800; vanilla, 

 1,600; cacao, 500; miscellaneous, 106. In addition, 296 

 packets of vegetable seeds, and 5,000 onion seedlings were 

 sold. 'Six. .Joseph Jones, the Curator, states that there was 

 considerable activity in*the fresh lime trade, the local price 

 of which advanced from \Qs. to 26j-. per bushel during the 

 month. There is now no market for ripe limes. The 

 rainfall for the month was 3'32 inches. 



MONTsEERAT. Taking advantage of rains which fell 

 in the early part of March, seed was sown in the cotton- 

 breeding plot in the Experiment Station, where twenty-one 

 types of cotton are being grown, each occupying one-sixteenth 

 acre. Plant distribution during the month included the 

 following: Bay plants, 480; .sweet potato cuttings, 10,600; 

 yams, 456,tt>.; pigeon peas, 17i B). ; black-eye peas, 46 packets; 

 ground nuts, 2.'') ft).; and 83 corn cobs. In the Botanic 

 Gardens seven distillations of bay leaves were made. 



Referring to staple crops Mr. Robson, the Curator, 

 states that probably one-half the cotton crop has been planted. 

 It is the largest area ever planted so early, and is likely to 

 exceed 3,000 acres. The total area planted last season is now 

 shown to have been 2,608 acres, and as the total crop will be 

 in the neighbourhood of 400,000 lb. of lint cotton, the average 

 return of lint per acre for the island will be 150 R)., which, 

 though slightly less than last season, is above the average 

 for the last fourteen years. 



There was a general scarcity pf foodstuffs during the 

 month, the supply of imported H u.r having been exhau.sted 

 at one period. Considerable areas have been planted in 

 sweet potatoes, but there will probably be a scarcity 



AGRICULTURE IN BARBADOS. 



The following is reproduced from the Barbados 

 Agrictdtural Reporter, April tj, 1918: — 



The total rainfall for March is under 2 inches in th* 

 low-lying parts of the island, and between 4 and 5 inchest 

 on the higher levels. This total is about the average, and 

 the distribution of it was by no means unsatisfactory. 



This year is the ideal syrup year, but in spite of this, 

 we advocate co-operative factories as being absolutely the 

 best .system for the future of the sugar industry of the island. 

 With the character of the cane grown in Barbados it should 

 be possible with a factory of 4,000 or 5,000 ton capacity to 

 recover the same high percentage of sugar content as that 

 recovered in large modern factories. A disastrous multipli- 

 cation of small factories is taking place, and there is a spirit, 

 of individualism shown when co-operation is suggested which 

 must result in loss in machinery, in milling, and in manufac- 

 ture. 



The young cane crop does not seem to have suffered froia 

 the dry weather of the past fortnight. In most fields there is 

 a healthy green appearance, and the holes are bunching satis- 

 factorily. 



The most important question at the present moment is- 

 the food supply of the island. Some Indian corn has beea 

 planted, and here and there a field of potatoes, but the dry- 

 weather has hindered planting to any extent. Some pre- 

 paration is being made almost everywhere for food crops^ 

 but rain is necessary before anything further can be done. 



The Governor of British Guiana has warned us that: 

 that colony will be unable to supply us with all the rice w» 

 have asked for, and the Allies cannot divert any food until 

 their armies have ^een amply supplied. 



