166 



THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. 



May 29, 1909.. 



WEST INDIAN COTTON 



Messrs. Wolsteiiliolme «^^ Holland, ot Liverpool, 

 write as follows, tinder date of May 10, in reference to 

 the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton : — 



Since our last repnit a good bu.biness lias taken plaoe in 

 West Indian Sea Island cotton, and prices are very firm. 



l^pwards of 7<)0 bales have been .sold, includint; Antigua 

 I'ild. to 14^/., Barbados Hirf. to 14</., Barbuda I2d., 

 Mo'ntserrat, 12'/. to 14rf., Nevis, 1:W. to I'^J., St. Croix 

 lOd. to 13irf., St. Kitt's lid. to VSy., St Vincent 16<?., 

 Virtjin Islands I'M., and Tobago lid. 



COTTON GROWING AT TORTOLA. 



The continuous advance in the output of cotton 

 from Tortola would indicate that the small holders who 

 form the main agricultural class in that colony find the 

 crop a remunerative one, in spite of the low prices of 

 the past two seasons. 



Cotton planting at Tortola practically commenced in 

 1903, and the exports for the year 1903-4 were valued at no 

 more than £3.5. The shipments of lint increased rapidly 

 each year, however, and in 1907-S reached 32,500 lb., worth 

 about £l,SOO. Kor the year ended March 31, 1909, the 

 cotton exports were 240 bales of 200 ft, each (48,000 ft.). 

 Cotton .seed is distributed free to the (leasants from the Agri- 

 cultural Department. In his report on agricultural work in 

 the \'irgin Islands for the month of April last, Mr. Fishlock 

 re[iorts that cotton ])ickiiig ff>r the season will soon be 

 romplfrted, and that the last day for puiuhasing cotton at 

 tlie Exi)eriiiieiit Station will be May 29. 



Arrangements are being made ti> hold meetings of 

 IKjasant holders in ditt'erent parts of the Biesidency, at which 

 the Agricultural In.structor will give addresses on the chief 

 jKiiiits to be observed in connexion with cotton growing, and 

 will urge upon the people thr a(l\ i>ability "f destroying all 

 old (•ntt<in ])lants siimc time pievious to planting the new crop. 



COTTON AT MONTSERRAT, 

 Mr W. Kobson'.s report on agricultural work at 

 Motitscrrat for the month of April last, contains the 

 following notes in reference to the cotton industry: — • 

 The rains of April greatly facilitated the pivjiaratien of 

 cotton lands, which, on the larger estates, is well in advance. 

 There does not .seem, at |iresont, to be much activity amongst 

 the small growers in getting their lands ready. This applies 

 especially to the south district, in the north a good deal of 

 frc-h land is cleared up, and interest in cntton in that part 



of the i-sland is still very keen. The number of peasants- 

 planting cotton in the past season was 800, representing am 

 area of about 520 acres. The amount of cotton purchased 

 locally from them was 200,719 ft., having a value of =£1,672. 



On many large estates visited by me during the montb 

 almost all cotton plants were deirtroyed, and the larger portion 

 of those on holdings belonging to small planters. The latter 

 are very willing to hfive their old cotton destroyed, and I 

 should say that bv the end of Alav very few plants will 

 be left. 



The great scarcity of vegetables in the past season has 

 been much felt bj' the labouring classes, and it seems likely 

 that many of them will again turn their attention to food 

 crops instead of cotton, in the coming season. 



A quantity of cotton seeds have been imported from 

 St. Kitt's for sale to small planters. 



Nine of the ' Buco' hand cultivators have been imported 

 for trial in cotton fields. 



PULLING OLD COTTON PLANTS. 



The Agricultural Instructor at St. Vincent reports 

 that during the month of April he devoted the greater 

 part of his time to work in connexion with the destruc- 

 tion of cotton stalks both on cotton estates, and on the 

 lands of small growers. The movement for the earl}' 

 destruction of old cotton plants is making progress, 

 but, for various causes, it is still difficult to get many 

 growers to act on the advice given. 



At Argyle estate iS' very good method of destroying the 

 cotton stalks is practis^ed, Kvery alternate .six rows of plants, 

 are first nulled \\\> and left on the ground to dry. A few- 

 days later the rows that remain arc (luUed, and the dry and 

 the green steins are burnt together. 



It is oli.served that it would frecpiently be of advantage 

 if the cotton plants were pulled immediately cotton picking 

 is finished, instead of being allowed to remain on the land 

 for many weeks afterwards. The Agricultural Superintendent 

 states that exiierimenti^ made at St. Vincent have shown that 

 if the laiifl was cleared early, and pigeon peas or some 

 other leguminous cro'p, jihintcd on the cotton banks and 

 in the furrow.s, there would in many cases be as much as 

 \0 tons of green dressing ii:aterial available for turning into 

 the soil when it is being prepared foi- replanting in cotton. 



I'nder present conditions when the plants remain a con- 

 siderable time in the field after jiicking has been finisheil, 

 the bush and giecn ..jnaferial that grow up are generally 

 collected and burnt with the cotton stalks, and valuable 

 organic material is in tjiis way wasted. 



