198 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



June 25, 1910. 



WEST INDIAN COTTON. 



Messrs. Wolsfcenholme and Holland, of Liverpool, 

 write as follows, under date June (i, with reference 

 to the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton : — 



About 200 bags of West Indian Sua Island have been 

 sold since our last report. The sales include St. Croix, Virgin 

 Islands and a few bags from St. Kitts, ^Montserrat, Antigua 

 and .Jamaica. Prices range from 20rf. to 2\hd., and Stains 

 realized 13d. to 15irf. ThemaTket remains fairly steady. 



The reports of the growing crop in Florida and Georgia 

 are not too satisfactory, and as the fine trade is rather 

 improving, we think good prices will obtain next season for 

 AVest Indian Sea Lslands. 



The report of Messrs. Heniy VV. Frosc & Co., on 

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week 

 ending May 28, is as follows: — 



The market has continued dull during the past fort- 

 night, with apparently no demand f >r the Planters' crop lots 

 remaining in stock and on plantation, aggregating upwards 

 of 200 bales, which are still held at 38c., 40c. and 50c., in 

 the absence of any demand. 



COTTON EXPORTS FROM THE 



WEST INDIES. 



The following table gives the exports of cotton from the 

 \^'est Indies, for the quarter ending March 31, 1910: — 



Total 2,912i 1,127,142 70,788 5 



All this cotton was sent to the United Kingdom, with 

 the exception of 28 bales (14,147 lb.), of an estimated value 

 of £884 3»-. 9'/., which was shipped from Barbados to the 

 United States. With the exception of 106i bales (31,S56 ft.), 

 of an estimated value of £1,313 6.v. 8fl, of Marie Galante, 

 all the cotton shipped was Sea I.sland. 



THE BRITISH COT ION-GROWING 

 ASSOCIATION. 



The Fi/fh Annua/ Report ijf tlie Jlrltisli Cottoii-Gruwiny 

 Axsociatioii, for the year 1909, a copy of which has been 

 received recently, points out, after making due acknowledge- 

 ment of the assistance which has been given in various 

 ways during the year, that the recent failure of the cotton 

 crop, both in America and in Egypt, has now presented undeni- 

 able proof that the very existence of the Lancashire cotton 

 trade depends on the rapid development of new cotton-growing 

 areas in other parts of the world. Reference is made to 

 the inadeijuate response from Lancashire to the first appeal 

 of the Association for capital, six years ago, and it is pointed 

 out that if the recognition of the necessity for the provision 

 of additional sources of the supply of cotton had been made 

 at that time, the work of the Association would now have 

 advanced to such' a stage, that all that might have been 

 necessary at present would be the provision of sufficient capital 

 for the development of those areas where the trials had 

 been successful. Notwithstanding this want of means, suffi- 

 cient progress has been made in certain parts of the world, 

 especially Nigeria, Uganda, Nyasaland and the West Indies, 

 to show that it only lequires adequate capital for tJie cotton 

 industry in these places to be developed largely and rapidly. 

 The efforts of the Association, however, cannot be confined to 

 such work, as other countries which can grow good cotton are 

 awaiting development. 



In consequence of the serious state of the Lancashire 

 cotton trade which has arisen on account of the failure of the 

 American and Egyptian crops, it was decided by the Council, 

 in Se[>tember last, to make a further appeal for capital, and 

 to enter into negotiations for the .support of the Federation 

 of Master Cotton Spinners A favourable report was made 

 by a Comnuttee, which was appointed to enquire into the 

 work of the Association, and into the prospect that ailditions 

 to the funds would be justified: and a recommendation was 

 made that subscriptions should be requested from the cotton 

 trade, on the following basis: — 



Spinners, £2 per 1,000 spindles, spread over five years. 



Manufacturef.s, Is. per loom, spread over five years. 



Operatives, Is. 3rf each. 



At the present time, this scheme i.s receiving ready 

 sujjport from the federation of Master Cotton Spinners, from 

 the North and North East Lancashire Cotton Spinners and 

 Manufacturers' Association, as well as from the ciperatives' 

 associations. 



The experiments which were outlined in 1908, for the 

 purpose of making trial of cotton seed as a fuel for providing 

 motive power, have been successful u'p to the present, and 

 a plant is working'satisfactorily at Lagos. The trials are to be 

 extended by the erection of another plant in East Africa, and 



