262 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



August 12, 1916. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



ST. LUCIA. Mr. A. .T. Brooks's report for .June states 

 that cacao is flowering, tlie lime crop coming in steadily, and 

 reaping operations in connexion with the sugar crop are 

 complete. Plant distribution included — lime.s, 3,709: 

 oranges (budded), 2.5; mangoes (grafted), 3: cassiva cuttings, 

 600; vegetable seed.s, 105 packets: decorative and economic, 

 97. Operations in the Botanic Gardens and Experiment 

 Stations consisted chiefly in routine work. Extension in 

 cultivations most marked in the Dennery district is .said to 

 be due in a great measure to the prospect of obtaining 

 a good carting road. The Agricultural Superintendent 

 visited Soufriere, La Perle, Palmiste, and Kuby estates, whilst 

 the Agricultural Officer visited Marquis and Anse-le-Raye. 

 Two meetings of agricultural interest were held during the 

 month, both of %vhich were attended by the Agricultural 

 Superintendent: one for the purpose of drawing up 

 a leport relating to the question of land settlement for 

 members serving in His ^Majesty's Forces: the other, held 

 at Soufriere, for the formation of an Agricultural Credit 

 Society. The arrival of the Imperial (Jommissioner of 

 Agriculture in the island on June 29, for a stay of two 

 weeks, is recorded. 



>JEVls. According to Mr. W. I. Howell, the several 

 plots in the Experiment Stations suffered much from 

 want of rain. From the Botanic Station, plant distri- 

 bution during .June included 4 fi). beans, 2 ft). Indian 

 corn, 66 tomato, eggplant, etc., and 45.5 Ih. cotton seed. 

 The sugar-cane crop is almost reaped, and a fair amount of 

 the sugar made has been sold already, at fairly good prices. 

 The young canes throughout the island are suffering much 

 from want of rain, and growth in many of the fields has 

 been seriously checked. The cotton crop, on the whole, 

 is said to be very backward. Several fields have been planted, 

 but the plants have practically all been killed by the hot and 

 dry weather, hence there is hardly a well-established field in 

 the island. A fair acreage is prepared, but planting is retarded 

 by prevailing weather conditions. Provision crops have 

 .suffered similarly, as a result of the drj' weather. Itegular 

 visits have been paid to the estates and peasiints' plots in 

 different parts of the i.sland, and advice given where required. 

 A large number of coco-nuts have been collected at Pinneys 

 estate, but no shipments could be made as the steamers do 

 not take any freight. 



Mr, Howell also forwards a report fcir the quarter ended 

 June 30, 19 1 fi, which embodies the chief items of interest 

 for the period under review, which have already been 

 published in previous i.s.sues of the Ayrinihuial Neirx The 

 rainfall for the quarter was 6' 64 inches, and for the year to 

 date 17 35 inches. 



viKiiiN isL.\Ni)S. Work in the Tortola K.xperiment 

 Stations during June ajipears to have consisted chielly in the 

 preparation of land for the cotton s-eed farm, about 5 acn.'s being 

 in course of preparation; and the weeding of jtlots and plant- 

 ing of .selected Indian corn. Conditions have'lieen favourable 

 to growth, says Mr. Fisldock, and a good deal of cotton has 

 been planted. The lime trees at the Station give promise of 

 a fair yield. A visit was paid to Virgin (Jorda (Sound and 

 Valley), and also to Anegada. A meeting was held at the 

 first mentioned island, at which the new arrangements 

 concerning the ])urcha.se of cotton were discussed. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



i.sL.\NDS. As advised in our circular report of June 3, 

 the crop has been practically all sold: consequently the market 

 is closed until October, when the new crop will begin to come 

 to market. The quotations are nominal, and are based on 

 prices last paid, viz: — 



Extra Fine 31c. to 32c. =20irf. to 21'/. c.i.f. ifc 5 percent. 

 Fully Fine 30c. = 20rf. „ „ „ „ 



FLORTD.^H AND liEoHGi.vs. The demand has contiimed 

 throughout the month of .June, on account of the Northern 

 and Southern Mills, at very steady prices, taking the limited 

 offerings in Savannah market as well as such lots as were 

 obtainable in the interior towns. This demand has reduced 

 very much the unsold stock, leaving generally only such 

 cotton as is held off the market in anticipation of higher 

 prices, under the impression that some mills require further 

 sa()ply before the next crop is marketed. 



W 



e quote, viz.: 



Fancy 



Exira Choice 

 Choice 

 Extra Fine 



30.',c. = 31.',c., landed. 

 29lc. = 30 k-., „ 

 28.ic. = 29.1c., „ 

 27k. = 2,4d. „ 



The exports from Savannah sii'ce .June 3 were, to 

 Northern Mills 506 bales. Southern Mills 314 bales, and 

 from Jack.sonville to Northern Mills 1,626 bales. 



Crop Advices. The weather during the month of .Jiwie 

 has been generally favourable, and the crop has made satis- 

 factory progress. The entire section has had beneficial rains, 

 which have improved very much the outlook. Although 

 in some instances the young plant is reported small and 

 backward, the general condition is quite up to a good average, 

 and with continuance of favourable weather, the new crop 

 may begin to come to market the latter part of August and 

 early September. 1-"stimates still arc about 100,000 bales 

 and upwards. 



Thi.s report al.so shows that the total e.xports of 

 Sea Island cotton tVoui the United .States to Liverpool 

 and i\Ianche.ster, up to July 1, 1!)1(), were 754 and 

 443 bales, respectively. 



COTTON EXPORTS FROM THE WEST 



INDIES. 



The following table gives the quantitj- and estimated 

 value of the Sea Island cotton exported from the West Indies 

 tor the quarter ended March 31, 1916: — 



Colony. (Quantity, Estimated value. 



Jb. £. 



Barbados 58,013 3,868 



St. Vincent 156,349 10,423 



Antigua 30,500 2,351 



Mont.seriat 254,1-50 19,591 



St. Kitts 99,810 6,238 



Nevis 76,705 4,794 



Anguilla 9,2-50 578 



Virgin Islands 



9,002 



693.779 



525 



48,368 



