Vol. XV. No. 367. 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



165 



than twice the total quantity shipped last year has been 

 exported. The agricultural prospects this year in the Virgin 

 Islands are therefore good. There was a committee meeting 

 of the Tortola Onion Growers' Association during March. The 

 ■weather during the month was diy, rain in measurable 

 quantity falling on nine days of the month, the total amount 

 recorded being I'^^l inches, as compared with an average of 

 2'51 for the same month for the previous fifteen years. 



ENCOURAGEMENT OP COTTON CULTI- 

 VATION IN NEVIS. 



His Honour Major Burdon, L'.M.G., Administrator of 

 St. Kitts- Nevis, accompanied by Mr. F. R. Shepherd, Agri- 

 cultural Superintendent, recently paid a visit to Nevis with 

 the object of holding a meeting for the purpose of encourag- 

 ing peasant cotton growing in that island. In response to 

 a circular letter previously issued by the Administrator, there 

 was a large and representative assemblage. After a few intro- 

 ductory remarks the Administrator requested Mr. Shepherd to 

 review the condition of the cotton industry in Nevis in recent 

 years, with special reference to the small growers. In doing so 

 Mr. Shepherd referred first to the satisfactory working a few 

 years ago of the ginneries formerly at Stony Grove, which 

 had been managed by Mrs. Mills. By this means the small 

 grower could have his cotton ginned and shipped, and an 

 advance of money to aid him until the cotton was sold. This 

 ginnery, unfortunately, was destroyed by fire some years ago, 

 and has not yet been repUced. 



Continuing, Mr. Shepherd said the season of 1914 bad 

 been a favourable one from the point of view of production, 

 but the war had upset market arrangements, so that the 

 small grower had had difficulty in selling his seed-cotton 

 locally, and had been ultimately obliged to accept whatever 

 price had been offered by local speculators. This led last 

 year to a reduction in acreage. The Agricultural Department, 

 however, made every effort to arrange a scheme for the 

 purchase of peasant cotton, and the one eventually arrived at 

 ■was that operated by Mrs. Pistana, a purchaser of seed- 

 cotton in St. Kitts. By this scheme a first payment of 5c. 

 per lb. of seed-cotton was secured for the grower, and a share 

 in the profits after the cotton was sold. Mr. Shepherd said 

 that during the coming season the same purchaser would be 

 ■willing to continue the agreement, the question of the price 

 for first payment to be fixed according to the market price of 

 lint cotton. Mr. Shepherd commended this arrangement and 

 urged on all present the advisability of increasing the acreage 

 planted in Nevis during the coming season, as there was 

 every prospect of better prices for cotton in the near future. 



Considerable discussion then took place and there 

 appeared to be some feeling that it would be preferable if, 

 instead of the buyer being resident in St. Kilts, the same 

 terms could be offered by someone resident in Nevis. 

 Mr. Shepherd explained that he held no brief for any par- 

 ticular purchaser, and that it was open to anyone in Nevis to 

 make similar terms. The Rev. Coward suggested for the con- 

 sideration of the meeting, that the ginnery in Charlestown, at 

 present lying idle, should be acquired either by the Govern- 

 ment or by a local .syndicate, and the cotton purcha.sed on 

 a sliding scale basis similar to that adopted with canes at 

 the Basseterre Sugar Factory. A bonus would also be 

 declared on the profits of the working of the business. 

 Mr. W. P. Maynard advocated that cotton should be pur- 

 chased at a price fixed by the Government. Hon. J. S. 

 Hollings, as agent of Messrs. Gillespie Bros., Ltd., said he was 

 prepared to receive any quantity of cotton, whether it was 

 1 bale or 1,000 bale.s, and make an advance upon it and then 



sell it. After the cotton is sold a small commission woidd be 

 charged, and the total proceeds, less the actual expenses and 

 commission, would be handed to the growers. 



In commenting upon the above observations, Mr. Shep- 

 herd said he was of opinion that the result of the meet- 

 ing was to show that the position of the cotton industry 

 in Nevis was satisfactory. Under jMr. Hollings' arrange- 

 ments the grower of 1 bale and upwards could find an easy 

 market with an advance as first payment, and the small 

 grower who could not avail himself of this could find a safe 

 market for his seed-cotton either under Mrs. Pistana's 

 scheme, or through a local purchaser in Nevis, of whom there 

 appeared to be several willing to come forward. 



In closing the meeting, His Honour the Administrator 

 thanked everyone for coming and for making the meeting 

 interesting and useful. He mentioned that the advisability 

 of a small export ta.x on cotton lint was under consideration, 

 and that he was consulting Dr Watts, the Imperial Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture, on the subject. 



A COTTON GROWERS' ASSOCIATION 

 IN ANTIGUA. 



As an outcome of the recent Cotton Conference held in 

 St. Kitts, an association of cotton growers has been formed 

 in Antigua The Association includes in its membership all 

 the principal cotton growers in the island. The committee 

 of management consists of the following gentlemen: 

 Mr. A. P. Cowley (Chairman), Hon. P. Warneford, Dr. H. A. 

 Tempany (ex officio). Captain J. Dew, Mr. M. Scott 

 •lohnstone, and Mr. T. .Jackson (Curator, Experiment Station) 

 to be Secretary and Treasurer. 



Mr. .Jackson has forwarded to this Othce the rules of the 

 Association, which may serve as a model for other islands 

 where, no doubt, similar associations will be formed. These 

 rules are brief, and provide firstly, that the object of the 

 association shall be to safeguard the interests, and to promote 

 the development of the cotton industry in Antigua. Secondly, 

 the persons eligible for membership must be cultivators of 

 cotton or engaged in handling and marketing the crop, or 

 interested in the industry in other ways. Thirdly, the 

 As.sociation is to be attiliated to the Antigua Agricultural and 

 Commercial Society and to the Antigua Onion Growers' 

 Association, but membership of the association shall not 

 necessitate membership of either or both of these bodies, nor 

 does the affiliation imply any financial responsibility. Ordin- 

 ary members are to be elected annually at the general meet- 

 ing on the proposition of two members. This general meet- 

 ing will be held in April, when ofiicers vifill also be elected. 

 A special meeting may be summoned at any time at the 

 discretion of the Board of Management, or on the written 

 requisition of three members. At meetings of the committee 

 three shall form a quorum; at any general meeting seven 

 shall form a quorum. The subscription to the Association is 

 Is. 6'/. per annum, payable annually. 



The rules stipulate that the Committee of Management 

 shall hold meetings and shall have full power to deal with all 

 matters affecting the interest of the industry in Antigua. 

 The Association shall co-operate with planters, and with the 

 Agricultural Department in conducting experiments and 

 trials likely to be of value to the industry. Tlie results shall 

 be communicated to the members. If desirable, the rules 

 may be amended at a general meeting of the Association, 

 members having been previously informed of the proposed 

 alterations. Lastly, the rules make prcjvision for the expul- 

 sion of any undesirable member by vote taken in general 

 meeting. 



