198 



THE AGKICULTUKAL NEWS. 



JvNE 29, 1918. 



COTTON. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



The Report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on 

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the 

 week ended June 1, 191'S, is as follows: — 



isL.\si)S. During the past fortnight the market ha.s 

 remained very unlet, with little inquiry. 



The unsold stock con.'^ists of odd bags, classing Fine to 

 Fully Fine, as the Planters' crop lots have been sold. The 

 Factor.* are showing more disposition to sell, but continue to 

 ask previous prices, being still unwilling to admit that they 

 will sell at any concession in price. However, with orders in 

 hand we can probably buy at some decline from (juotations. 



We quote, viz: — 

 Extra Fine 75c. to 80c. = 77c. to 82c., c.i.f. 



Fine to Fully Fine 72c. to 7.'5c. = 74c. to 75c. ,, 

 Fine to Fully Fine, off in preparation, 70c. = 72c. ,, 

 Fine to Fully Fine, .stained, 65c. = 67c. c.i.f. 



GEOKiiiAS AND Fi.ORiDAs. Since our last circular report 

 the market has been generally quiet, with i'actors holding 

 average Extra Choice at 72|c., for which there has been 

 limited demand. However, during the past few days small 

 orders have come into the market, resulting in sales of about 

 250 bales Extra Choice to Fancy at 73c., taking some lots of 

 good cotton which were seeking sale. 



We quote viz: — 

 Ejctra Choice to Fancy 7.'ie. = 75c., c.i.f. 

 Average Extra Choice 12{c. — li{c. ,, 



The exports during the past two weeks have been large, 

 there having been shipped from Savannah 2,202 bales to 

 New ^ ork and 1,075 bales to Boston, and from Jacksonville 

 to Northern Mills 76G bales. The larger part of these ship- 

 ments are reported to be Government cotton, which is being 

 forwarded to the mills which have contracts for the Govern- 

 ment. Consequently the cotton is going into consumption. 

 This movement serves to encourage the holders of the 

 unsold stock to think that all of this crop may be recjuired 

 before the next season open.s, and that they will find a 

 market for this cotton on a basis of prices current. 



Local Prices of St Vincent Cotton, 1916-17. 



— Mr. W. N- Sands, Agricultural Superintendent, .St. Vincent, 

 has forivarded to this Otlice some figures as to the results of 

 the cooperative purchase of cotton by the Government 

 ginnery in that i.sland for the 1916- 17 crop. 



For first grade white seed-cotton, the payment on 

 account and the final bonus netted the seller 17^c. pertt)., 

 or at the rate of 70c. per ft>. of clean lint, 



The seller of white Marie Galante cotton netted in the 

 same way 101c. per B). of ."^eed cotton, or at the rate of 

 iSfC. lb. of clean lint. 



PROSPECTS OF COTTON PRODUCTION 

 IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



In an article on this subject in T/'/i- Board of Trade 

 Jourttal, April 25, 1918, it is stated th»t according to the 

 latest figure.s, there are approximately 5,200 acres under cotton 

 cultivation in the Union. The total yie'd for the season 

 1916-17 was 700,000 lb. of seed-cotton and 23.3,000 lb. of lint. 

 Throughout the Union there are considerable areas where the 

 soil and climatic conditions are suited for this cultivation. 

 The type of cotton which appears to be best adapted to South 

 African conditions is the American Upland variety. 



For the proper production of cotton, the rainfall should 

 increase from the time of planting until flowering sets iu, and 

 then decrease until harvesting time, which should take place 

 in dry weather. These conditions are fulfilled in South 

 Africa. The rains begin in October, and increase in volume 

 until January, when they gradually decrease, and by the end 

 of May the rainfall practically ceases. Dry weather during 

 the maturing and harvesting periods is especially favourable to 

 cotton production. These conditions do not always prevail 

 in America, where the cotton is of ten damaged by rain before 

 it can be picked. In the -sections of South Africa suitable 

 for cotton cultivation, the rains have generally ceased by 

 harvesting time, so that practically no cotton is damaged by 

 excessive moisture after the bolls open. 



In the Union there are vast areas of virgin soil of 

 suitable types for cotton cultivation, which are located 

 where favourable climatic conditions prevail, and which 

 could be utilized for a large increa.se of cotton production. 

 As compared with the conditions which prevail in the cotton 

 belt of the United States of America, it would appear that 

 the soil and climate of South Africa are eminently suit- 

 able for the cultivation of this crop. In the sugar-pro- 

 ducing area of Natal and Zululand, cotton is recommended, 

 as being the most suitable and remunerative crop which can 

 be used for the purpose of rotation with sugar-cane. 



Reports on South African grown cotton place it on a 

 considerably higher grade than Middling American. On 

 account of this fact, there is an idea that South African 

 cotton is much superior to any Upland cotton produced in 

 the American cotton belt. This is erroneous, but it is true 

 that South African cotton is generally of better quality than 

 the bulk of the I'pland cotton grown in the States. 



As South Afiican cotton is of the same type as that 

 produced in America, it can be used by spinners for the same 

 purposes. This class of cotton supplies the bulk of the 

 cotton trade both in England and on the Continent, so that 

 there is no fear of not finding a market for the South 

 African nroduct. 



The St. Vincent Sentry, June 14, i;)lt<, notes that 

 although the current market quotations in London for 

 arrowroot are at present very good, the impossibility of 

 securing tonnage to convey arrowroot to the United Kingdom 

 is preventing the St. Vincent producers from obtaining the 

 benefits of the higher prices. The wisdom of not relying on 

 one cro[) is now evident. The planters who, besides producing 

 arrowroot, have devoted a portion of their land to the culti- 

 vation of cotton, are now perceiving the advantages of such 

 a policy. The assurance of immediate spot cash purchase of 

 the entire crop of the colony by the Government is another 

 reason for directing attention towards the production of 

 cotton. 



