102 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



March 25, 1916. 



DOWf^JHE ISLANDS. 



COTTON. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool, 

 write as follows, under date February IS, 1916, with 

 reference to the sales of West Indian Sea Island 

 cotton: — 



Since our last report there has been nothing doing, 

 exoL'pt for a .sale of 18 bales of Superfine 8t Vincent, at prices 

 from 24''. to 3S'/. 



The Ropor-t of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., 

 on Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for 

 the week ending February IS), 191fi, is as follows: — 



ISLANDS. There was a demand for the limited offerings 

 of odd bags, resulting in the above sales of small lots, chiefly 

 tinged and off cotton. 



There was also a demand for a crop lot, but below the 

 vIbw of the planter. 



The unsold portion of the crop consists of only 200 to 

 250 bales classing Fine to Fully Fine, which are held at 30c. 

 and upwards, and two crop lots held at full prices. 



We quote, viz.: 



Extra Fine 30c. = 19.'irf. to '20d. c.i.f. A 5 per cent. 



Fully Fine 29c. = 19rf. „ „ „ „ 



Fine 28c. = 1 8 W. „ „ „ „ 



Fine off in cla.ss 27c. = 18rf. ,, „ ,, ,, 



FLOETDAs AND OEORGiAS. There continues an absence 

 of.'demand: therefore the market is dull, yet the Factors are 

 holding their offerings under instructions on a basis of Fancy 

 30c.'. In cou-^ecjuence of the high prices ruling for Egyptian 

 cotton and the good rei)iirts of the fine trade, there is 

 a hopeful feeling that the mills will sooner or later require 

 further sujjply, admitting of the balance of the crop being 

 sold on basis of ([notations. However, should this not be 

 realized, then we may succeed in buying in the near future 

 at some concession. 



We quote, viz.: 



Fancy ."!0c. = 31c., landed. 



Extra Choice 29c. = 30c., ,, 



Choice 28c. = 29c., „ 



Extra Fine 27c. = 28c., „ 



The exports from Savannah for the week were, to 

 Liverpool 270 bales. Northern Mills 166 bales, and from 

 Jacksonville to Northern ^[ills, 88 bales. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The Lnpeiial ( '(ininiissiouer of Agriculture, accom- 

 panied by Jlessrs. \V. R. Dunlop, Scientific A.ssistvnt, 

 H. A. Balloti, IM.Sc., Entomologist, and W. Nowell, 

 D. I. C, Mycologist, returned to Barbados by the 

 C. R. If. S. 'Chignecto' on March '2.S, after having 

 attended the Cotton Conference held in St. Kitts. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



ST. VINCENT. A communication received from Mr. 

 W. N. Sands, Agricultural Superintendent, reports that the 

 picking of cotton in that Colony had bten completed, and 

 cotton stalks pulled up and burnt; plots of Lima beans 

 (native), and Indian corn had been sown; plots of cassava 

 reaped; c )tton stainers collected; plots cleaned up; examin- 

 ation of cotton in the laboratory in progress; experiments 

 started to ascertain whether cotton stainers cause injury 

 leading to internal boll disease. The foregoing represents 

 work in the Experiment Stations during the month of 

 .January. In addition to the pulling up and burning of 

 plants in the cotton plot, the work in the Botanic Gardens 

 was of a general routine nature. 



The condition of the arrowroot and sugar ci-ops was 

 satisfactory; no improvement however is reported in the 

 condition of the cotton crop. In regard to other industrie.s 

 there was little to report at this time. 



Pests and diseasefe of crops, more particularly cacao, 

 cotton, limes, and coco-nuts, were the subject of a special 

 investigation by the Fntomologist and Mycologist of the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture, INIessrs. Ballon and 

 Nowell, who, with the Agricultural Superintendent and the 

 Assistant Agricultural Superintendent, visited estates in the 

 Leeward and Windward Districts for the purpose. 



The Agricultural Superintendent took control of the 

 (:!overnment Ginnery for sixteen days from the 25th., while 

 on the 31st the Assistant Superintendent left for the 

 Grenadines on a special visit. 



The weather during the month was showery, the rain- 

 fall recorded being — Botanic Station 7 '44 inches, and 

 Experiment Station 5'98 inches. 



In a later communication Mr. W. N. Sands reports 

 that in view of high freight rates the Arrowroot Growers 

 Association have decided to raise the minimum price 

 of arrowroot by h'l., making it 2|rf. per lb. Sugar manu- 

 facture was being kept back by the wet weather as the 

 megass could not be ijried. 



The Imjierial Commissioner of Agriculture pas.sed 

 St. Vincent on February f<, and had a meeting with several 

 prominent cotton growers, discussing with them the object 

 of the forthcoming Cotton Growing CJonference at St. Kitts. 

 An endeavour was made to arrange for two planters to 

 att(!nd the conference. Two more Credit Societies have 

 been recommended for registration, making twelve in all, 

 with a total membership of 400. 



The Agricultural Sujierintendent has been appointed by 

 His Honour the Administrator to rei)resent the Agricultural 

 Department at the Cotton Growing Com i etition to be held 

 next month. The weather during Febniary has been 

 .showery, the rainfall recorded being: — Botanic Station 6'89 

 inches, and llvperimclit Station 567 inches. 



.ST. i.ticiA. Mr. A. .1. Hrot)ks, the Agricultural Super- 

 intendent, reports that the lime crop is nearly finished, while 

 the sugar crop is being begun. During February, 1,000 

 lime plants have been distributed from the station. Pre- 

 parations arc being made for the extension of the lime 

 factory building. The rainfall recorded during the month 

 was: — Botanical Gardens 4 46 inche.% Agricultural Suition, 

 (^hoiseul, r48 inche.*.' 



DOMINICA. Mr. .Tones, the Curator, states that 

 the early crop of cacao is ripening, but there are 



