l.U 



THE AUKICULTUKAL NEWS. 



May i, 1916. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



COTTON. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



The Report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost (Si Co., on 

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the 

 veek ending March 'io, IQIS, is as follows: — 



ISLANDS. The market has remained very quiet for the 

 odd bags classing Fine to Fully Fine, there being little 

 enquiry at present: nevertheless the Factors continue firm in 

 their asking prices, refusing to admit that they would make 

 any concessions to sell. 



The sale;s reported consist of Planters' crop lots of 

 Extra Fine, on private terms, the buying being for export. 



We quote, viz: — 



Extra Fine 



oc. to 80c = 77c. to 82c., c-i.f. 



Fine to Fully Fine 73Ac. to 74c. = 75hc. to 76c 



Fine to Fully Fine, otf in preparation, 70c., to 71c. = 72c. 



to 73c , c.i.f 

 Fine to Fully Fine, stained, 6-5c. to 68c. = 67c. to 70c., c.i.f 



GEOKGi.is AND FLORIDAS. The Savannah market has 

 been dull, with apparently no demand. The sales reported 

 are purchases made in the interior, or cotton appropriated 

 by exporters on orders from their holdings. There is 

 a general disposition to hold firmly for quotations, the 

 impression being that the unsold portion of this crop will 

 all be required before the next crop is marketed. 



We quote, viz: — 



Fancy 74c. = 76c. c.i.f. 



Average Extra Choice 73c. = 7.5c. ,, 



Choice 72c. = 73c. ., 



The exports from Savannah for the week have been, to 

 Xorthern Mills 4 bales. Southern Mills 278 bale?, and from 

 Jacksonville to Northern .Mills 31 1 bales. 



f)n March 20 the I'nittd States Census Bureau made 

 its final report of cotton ginned to March 1, as follows: — 



South Carolina 7, 31 3. bales I 



Georgia 4 7,888 „ .making a total of 92,501 bales 



Florida 37,-300 „ J 



.agiinstlastyear 117,."j44 „ total crop 113,109 bales 



1016 91,920 „ „ „ 8.5,278 „ 



191.5 .Sl,.598 „ „ „ 78,8.57 „ 



1914 77,490 „ ,. „ 8.5,544 „ 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



Information ha.s been received from the Inipirial 

 <Jomrni.ssioner of .Vj^rienlture for the West Indies, 

 Sir. PVancis Watts, K C.M.<i., that by reijuest of the 

 Secretary of .State for the Colonies he will proceeil to 

 ihi- Hahainas on ihf conclusion of his visit to .Jamaica. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



ST. vi.NCEST. In items of Departmental interest during 

 the month of .Man-li, Mr. W. N. Sands Agricultural Super- 

 intendent, mentions the distribution of 7,71-5 cane 

 cuttings of selected varieties. With favourable weather 

 conditions, ground provisions, corn, and other crops 

 continued to thrive. Cotton picking was still in pro- 

 gress in .several places at the end of the month. The 

 eradication of John Hull stumps and seedlings which had 

 made growth, was carried out by the Cotton Inspector in 

 the Georgetown and Coionarie districts. Cotton stalks were 

 destroyed on many estates, but it will not be posdble to get 

 the work finished this season before April 30. .\rrangements 

 have been made for the shipment of 7 tons of yams to 

 Grenada for planting purposes. A local Syndicate has 

 arranged to purchase and refine the crude cotton-seed oil 

 produced by the Government Ginnery. Mr. S. C. Harland 

 Scientific Assistant for Cotton Research, returned from i!ar- 

 bados on March 26. and resumed his duties at the Experiment 

 Station. The weather during the month was fairly dry. The 

 rainfall recorded at the Ijotinic Station was 7-53 inches 

 and at the Experiment Station, 5'79 inches- 



ST- LUoi.\. According to notes received from the 

 Agricultural Superintendent, operations in the Experiment 

 Station during the month of March, in addition to 

 the usual routine work, included the making of farine, 

 reaping of cassava and i^jtatoe.", and the preparation 

 of dried potato chii)s, and making of flour. Plant distribu- 

 tion comprised the following: limes 950, oranges 8, decorative 

 and economic 294, vegetable seeds ()4 packets. The reaping 

 of cacao and sugar canes continues, but the lime crop is 

 practically over. .\lr. Brooks states that large a'eas are 

 being cleared for planting limes. The Government Granary 

 and Provisions iJepot, which continues to be largely pat- 

 ronized by the general public, has now undertaken 

 to supply all ground provisions required by the public 

 institutions. Work in connexion with the Cacao Prize 

 Holdings Scheme was contiimed throughout the month. 

 The rainfall registered at the Botanic Gardens Castries, 

 during the month totalled 5'.S2 inches, and at the .Vgrioal- 

 tural and Botanic Station. Choi.seul, 4 6S inches. 



ST. KiTi's. During the month of .March plant distribution 

 was a follows: cane plants, 3,30n; peanuts, 2011). In addition, 

 1,270 lb. of selected cotton seed were sold. Cuttings of 

 seven varieties of cassava, and tubers of seven varieties of 

 yams were sent to the Agricultural iJepartment, GrenaJa. 

 Operations in the Botanic Gardens were of a routine nature. 



Regarding .staple crops, the Superintendent of .Ai;i-icul- 

 ture, Mr. F. I!. Shepherd, states that the cane crop is being 

 rapidly taken otf, and there is litllw to report in this connex- 

 ion beyond the general short tonnage per acre. The general 

 .undition of the young cane cro[i is reported as unsatisfactory. 

 Cotton is being i)lanted on estates to the north, and the lands 

 in the Valley district were being [)repared for planting 

 during this month. The acreage seems likely to be increased. 

 All available selected seed from the JAperiment Station has 

 been sold. The lands at LaCuerite, rented for the growing 

 of ground j.-rovisions, are being planted chiefly in sweet 

 potatoes, (.'ertain estates are allotting lands to the labourers 

 for the purpose of growing provisions, '["he rainfall for the 

 month was 3-3s inchqs; for the year, 8-74 inche.s. 



NKVi.s. Mr. W. I. Howell, .Vgricultural Instructor, 

 states that on account of the dry weather experienced in 



