38 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



.1 \m lei 30. 1915. 



COTTON. 



WEST INDIAN COTTON. 



The reporl of Messrs. Henrj W. Frost & Co., on 

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week 

 ended January 9, is as follows: — 



The market was quiet throughout the week with only 

 a demand for the moderate offerings of Fine off in colour on 

 northern account. For Fine, Fullj Fine, and Extra Fine, 

 Factors show n" disposition as yet to concede from then 

 asking prices, thinking with the limited supply, they may in 

 time succeed in obtaining them. 



The crop lots are -till being held much above the views 

 of b i\ ers. 



\\ e quote, \ lz: 



Extra Fine 23c. = L3Jd. s c.i.f. & 5 per cent. 



Fully Fine 20c. to 21c. = 1 2d. tol2fd., „ „ ,. „ 



Pine 



Fine off in col 



I8c. = lld. 



16c. = KM 



This reporl shows that the total exports of Sea 

 Island cotton from the United States in Liverpool. 

 Manchester, and Havre, up to January 9 P.M."), were 

 50 1,012, and nil bales, respectively. 



Mr. J. L. Fonda, cotton expert representing the 

 Line Spinners Association, whose visit to the Wesl 

 Indies has already been referred to in the columns of 

 the Agricultural News, returned to Barbados after 

 having visited most of the islands where Sea Island 

 cotton is grown as an important crop. 



Mr. Fonda addressed a special meeting of the 

 Barbados General Agricultural Society on January 26. 



Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool, 

 write as follows, under date January 11, 1915, with 

 reference to the sales of West Indian Sea Island 



•cor ton: — 



Since our report of December 12, 1914, about •"><! bales 

 of West Indian Sea Island have been sold, chiefly Fine Nevis 

 I \4. to 15e?., and a few Montserrat at \\d. Roth new crop. 



Until there is some prospect of a termination of the 

 war, we only expect an occasional enquiry, unless holders are 

 disposed to accept about 1l'./. per lb., when large consumers 

 might be willing to augment their stocks. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture pro- 

 ceeded to St. Vincent on an official visit by the 

 S.S. •( Jhaudiere' of the Royal Mail Canadian Line which 

 I, it Barbados on Januar) 27. It is expected that 

 Dr. Watts will remain in St Vincent about a fortnight 

 returningto Barbados on or about Februarj 9. 



Mr. W, II. Dunlop, Scientific Assistant on the staff 

 ! : I Di partmi rit of Agriculture, retui i 



he l: M.S Ti nt' .'.ii Januar) 27 alt. i 

 three months' leave of al u Ei ind. 



REPORTS ON DOMINICA RUBBER. 



The Curator oi the Botanic Gardens, Dominica, has 

 forwarded a report received from the Imperial Institute, on 

 samples ol Dominica rubber, which formed a part of the 

 Dominica exhibit at the Rubber Exhibition held in London 



in July, last. 



There «rir three samples oi Para rubber, and one oi 

 Funtumia in this lot 



The Para rubber is described as follows: No. 1. Para 

 biscuits. Thin biscuits of pale rubber, clean and well prepared. 

 The rubber «a- ..I good appearance, but rather soft and 

 deficient in tenacity \bm\ oi the biscuits were firmly .-tuck 

 together. 



No. -. Para biscuits, 2nd quality. Thin biscuits varying 

 in colour from pale to light brown, and not of such good 

 appearance as the preceding sample. The rubber was soft 

 and deficient in ten. city. Manj of the biscuits were firmly 



-tuck together. 



No. .'5. Para rubber (smoked). Thin biscuits of dark 

 brown rubber having a strong smoky odour. The physie.il 

 properties were a little better than those of the preceding 

 samples, but the rubber was still rather weak. 



The results of examination are given below: 



1 

 Per cent. 

 Loss on washing I mois- 

 ture and impurities) 0'3 

 Caoutchouc 93*5 



Resin 3'5 



Proteid 2-7 



Ash 0-3 



The commercial valuation is thus given: No. 1. About 

 2s. \d. per ft), in London, with first quality biscuits at 2s. 4cf. 

 per lb. No. 2. About 2s. He?, per ft), in London, with first 

 quality biscuits at 2s. id. per lti. N<.. .'!. About 2*. 3d. in 

 London, with first quality smoked biscuits at 2s. 6c?. to 

 2s. ~d. per ft). 



'These three samples of Para rubber from Dominica 

 are very satisfactory in chemical composition, containing from 

 63 - 4 to 94'2 per cent, of caoutchouc. In physical properties 

 however, the rubber W not so good, being rather soft and 

 weak, and in this respect the specimens are a little inferior to 

 the previous samples of Para rubber from Dominica examined 

 at the Imperial Institute (see Imperial Institute reports 

 dated February 10, 1909, and February 15, 1912).' 



The sample, No. 4, Funtumia rubber, is reported upon 

 as follows: — 



No. 1, LagOS rubber. Thin rough biscuits of light browi 

 rubber, clean and in good condition. The physical proper 

 ties of the rubber wi re excellent. 



The results of the examination arc given below; 

 LOSS on washing (moisture and impurities) l"2 per i 



Caoutchouc 84 - 6 ., ,, 



Resin SS .. .. 



Proteid d-i .. .. 



Ash 0-2 .. „ 



The. commercial value of this sample is given as al 

 2s. per ft), in London at the present time (Novembei 1914) 



'This rubber contains rather large percentages of resin 

 and protein, w ith thje result that the amount of caoutchou 

 in the dry rubber is only 84 - 6 per cent. It- physical pro] 

 ertii - are, howi per, verj satisfactory, I similar rubbei 



WOUld a I v. 8 ■ V- 



