Vol. XV. No. 358. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



19 



introduced into the West Lidies. Seed was bought from the best 

 Carolina plantations, and some of the expert Carolina grow- 

 ers were engaged to teach the people of St. "Vincent, Antigua, 

 Barbados, and other islands how to raise and prepare this crop 

 for market. The effort to grow the cotton in the West Indies 

 was successful beyond expectations, and within five or six 

 vears the Carolina farmers commencLcl to feel the West 

 Indian competition. They resolved to cease selling seed to any 

 one — not only to the West Indies, Florida, and Georgia, but 

 also to their fellow islanders. The consequence was that the 

 general standard deteriorated, because the small grower was 

 depeniient c)u the large grower for good quality seed. Another 

 calamity was the introduction of Upland cotton, which led to 

 coMsideralile cross fertilization between the short and long 

 stapl' d varieties, and this occurred in the most favoured 

 seciioii of the Sea Island producing area. 



.\ •other cause for decreased consumption has been 

 cliaiiae.s m fashion, together with enforced economy of pro- 

 duction. An article which is essentially made to sell at 

 a cheap rate cannot generally be expected to contain Sea 

 Islami cotton of good quality, and those manufacturers 

 who are concerned in the production of a popular article 

 generally supposed to contain Sea Island cotton, very 

 seldom use that kind. Automobile tyre cloth forms a 

 good example. Sakellarides and good quality Sea Island 

 are still used in America to a limited extent in the manu- 

 facture of tyre fabrics, but the bulk of this product is from 

 the lower grades of the long staples, especially Egyptian. 

 This shifting of the tyre cloth trade largely to other cottons 

 has almost closed the largest outlet for Sea Lsland consump- 

 tion in America, and is a serious menace to the very existence 

 of the Sea Island industry of that country. However, the 

 final word has not yet been said in the tyre cloth business, 

 and it is still po.ssible that the wearing qualities of tyres 

 constructed from low grades of cotton will prove un.satisfactory 

 to their users, and that there will be a return to the old 

 standard quality in tyres. 



Turning now to another aspect of the subject, namely 

 the conditions amongst producers, the publication under 

 consideration gives some interesting information concerning 

 the system of marketing. It appears that a very important 

 middle man is the Factor, from whom the spinner buys, and 

 to whom the grower sells. Indeed the Factor advances 

 money and supplies to the farmers to enable them to make 

 their ciops, and collects the amounts when due. Perhaps one 

 of the most notable of the labour conditions of the South 

 Carolina market is the fact that a single firm of cotton 

 buyers usually purchases over three-fourths of the Carolina 

 crop. Four linns of Factors make practically all the 

 advances towards raising the crop, and the firm of buyers and 

 all four of the factors do their banking with the same 

 institution. The cotton-buying firm is repre.scnted on the 

 Directorate of the Bank. The potential power of a firm of 

 cotton buyers in such a position is, of course, great. 



Another detrimental condition that exists, arises from 

 the excessive use of the hoe in the cultivation of American 

 Sea Island, which is verj' expensive. Yet another unfavour- 

 able condition is that there are too many kinds of cotton. It 

 is suggested that an attempt should be made to grow medium 

 and uniform cotton. There can be no objection to a few 

 planters growing the extra staple Sea Island cottons if they 

 choose to do so, but it would not be advisable to increase the 

 production of these extra staples under the present conditions. 



If the prospects before Sea Island cotton in America 

 are not liright, the farmers have little to worry about, 

 because they can turn their attention to alternative crops 

 which can easily be made as profitable as cotton. Finally, 



the prospects for a continuance of the industry in th&- 

 Southern States is rendered very uncertain by the approach, 

 of the boll weevil. At the present rate of progress, it is 

 stated that this pest will overrun the entire Sea Island area 

 in from five to eight years. Those best posted concerning 

 the nature and habits of this pest are agreed in saying that 

 it may put an end to the jirofitable production of Sea Island 

 cotton in America. 



The special conditions attendant on the industry in 

 Georgia and Florida arc of interest. In most of Georgia, 

 and in much of the Florida- Sea Island area, Upland cotton 

 grows well, and Upland is encroaching on Sea Island in every 

 county in which both are being grown. Mention should be 

 made of the good work of the ginning companies in these 

 States, many of which have gone to considerable trouble in 

 order to secure and distribute the best seed available for 

 planting. 



In conclusion, it is clear from the publication which has. 

 provided the preceding information, that not much hope is- 

 held out for long-continued existence of the Sea Island cotton 

 industry in America. It would seem that in the near future, 

 say, within the next five years, the Briti.sh West Indies may- 

 hold a real monopoly, if Egypt can be excluded. It is impor- 

 tant for West Indian cotton growers to keep up a high stand- 

 ard, and not to reduce the acreage. The information that- 

 has been afforded by this Bulletin greatly strengthens the 

 position of the West Indian grower in relation to the- 

 spinners, as well as to his American competitor. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



Mr. W. R. Dunlop, the Scientific Assistant, 

 returned to Barbados by the S.S. 'Vauban' from 

 Trinidad on January 10, 1916, after spending twelve- 

 days in that Colony. 



Mr. H. A. Ballou, M.Sc, Entomologist, and' 

 Mr. W. Nowell, D.I.C., Mycologist, on the Staff of the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture, returned to 

 Barbados by the C.R.M.S. 'Caraquet' on January 11 

 from an ofhcial visit to St. Vincent, where attention 

 was given to problems connected with plant pests and 

 diseases. On their return voyage to Barbados a few 

 hours were spent in Grenada. 



The instruction given by local cacao instructors in ihe- 

 Gold Coast forms an important part of the work of thfe 

 Agricultural Department of that Colony. This work has 

 been extended to A.shanti during the past year, which is 

 regarded as likely to bring about still greater progress in 

 cacao cultivation in this part of Africi. It is said that this 

 system calls for very frequent supervision, if the best results 

 are to be achieved. 



We are informed by Mr. R. Foster Parkinson, that the- 

 goat 'Al bertha' (grade Toggenburg) was the winner of the 

 first prize and diploma of merit in Class I offered by the 

 Commissioner of Agriculture for milch goats at the Barbados. 

 Annual Exhibition on December 16, 191.5. Mr. Parkin.son 

 points out that it may be of interest to know that this is ihe- 

 thinl year in succession that a goat sired by 'Jensen', the 

 Buck imported by this Department, has won the first prize^ 



