Vol. XV. No. 383. 



THE AOrvICULTURAL NEWS 



A'9 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



GiCNEK.\L Rise in I'ekes. 



lafoniiation was received by cable on December Hi that 

 the prices ruling in Liverpool at that date for West Indian 

 cotton were: St. Vincent and St. Kitts. 36(7. perB).; Barbados, 

 Sid. per lb.: Nevi.s and ilontserrat, 32d. per lb.; other islands 

 3ld. to 32(7. 



This Department has obtained appro.Kimate estimates of 

 the West Indian cotton crop now being picked. These are as 

 follow: St. Kitts group 150,000 ft).; Montserrat 260,000 R>.; 

 Antigua 40,000 ft.; St. Vincent 180,000 ft.; Barbados 

 90,000 ft. For purposes of comparison we may reproduce 

 the figures published in the Agricultural Newi for December 

 2, 1916, showing the quantity of cotton shipped for the year 

 October 1, 1915 to September 30, 11)16. This was as 

 follows: Barbados 127,875 ft; St. Vincent 237,387 lb., 

 Antigua 80,250ft,;Montserrat 279,595ft.; St. Kitts 131,859ft; 

 Nevis 99,173ft,; Anguilla 49,620ft.; Virgin Islands 22,563 ft. 

 This makes a total of 1,00S,2S6 ft. compared with 720,000 ft. 

 (rough estimate) for the crop now being picked. 



The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on 

 Sea Island cotton in the Sovxthern States for the week 

 ending November 25, 1916, is as follows:^ 



lSL.\xiis. The ifceipls for the week were 205 bales, 

 sales 180 bales There was an active demand throughout the 

 week for the entire offerings, and at the close Ic. advance was 

 paid, and the market closed firm at; — ■ 



Fine 52c. = 53|c. landed. 



Extra F'ine 55c. = 56|d. „ 



The offerings of Extra Fine are very small as the receipts 

 consist largely of Fine. There have been no sales as yet of 

 Extra Fine planters' crops, which are being held at 65c. 

 to 70c. 



(lEOECiAS AND FLORDlA.s. In Consequence of the contin- 

 ued demand on account of the Northern Mills the market is 

 active with advancing prices, taking all the limited offerings, 

 which fail to supply the wants of buyers. The holders of 

 cotton both in Savannah and throughout the interior are 

 not very willing sellers and are holding their stocks in 

 anticipation of still higher prices, being encouraged to do 

 so by the advance in the Egy[)tian market. 



The quality of the receipts is falling of. and it is quite 

 impossible to buy unless you consent to take round lots, 

 which do not average more than Extra Choice. 



We quote, viz: — • 



GEORGIAS AND FLORIDAS. 



Extra Choice and Fancy 5Hc. to52c =53c to 53.tc. landed 

 Choice 50c. =52Ac, " „ 



with Factors asking a further Jc. advance. 



The exports from Savannah for the week were 3,028- 

 bales to Northern Mills, 320 bales to Southern Mills, and 

 from Jacksonville to Northern Mills 2,265 bales. 



The Tnited States Census Bureau reports cotton ginned 

 to November 14, as follows: — 

 South Carolina 938 bales! 



Georgia 60,857 „ [making a total of 93,004 bales. 



Florida 31,209 „ ) 



Against last year 69,477 „ Total crop 85,278 ,, 



„ 1914 53,875 „ ■ „ 78,857 „ 



1913 52,697 „ „ 85,444 „ 



,. 1912 41,321 „ „ 66,169 „ 



BRITISH COTTON GROWING ASSOCI- 

 ATION. 



The one hundred and Sfty-third meeting of the Council 

 of the British Cotton Growing Association was held at the 

 Offices, 1 5, Cross Street, Manchester, on Tuesday, November 

 7, 1916. 



In the absence of the President (The Rt. Hon. The Earl 

 of Derby, K.G.), Mr. .J. Arthur Hutton occupied the Chair. 



It was resolved that a letter be sent to Sir Reginald 

 Wingate, the Governor General of the Sudan, congratulating 

 him on his appointment as High Commissioner for Egypt. 



INDIA. The Association have been asked to take 

 a practical part in the cultivation of American cotton in the 

 Punjab, and the question is still under consideration. 



The opinion was expressed that the time was now 

 opportune for a big ellbrt to be made to develop cotton 

 growing within the Empire, and that the Government should 

 come to some decision as to what they intend to do regarding 

 the question of cotton cultivation in the future. 



The Association have proved that cotton can be pro- 

 duced commercially in many of our Colonies, and it now 

 remains for the Government to decide whether every possible 

 effort should be made to develop the cultivation of cotton in 

 the Kmpire on a large scale. It was decided that represen- 

 tatives of the Lancashire cotton trade should be invited to 

 meet the Council to discuss the cotton situation generally. 



WEST AFRICA. The purchases of cotton in Lagos to 

 October 31, amounted to 9,257 bales, as compared with 6,050 

 bales for the same period of last year, and 13,511 bales for 

 1914. 



The purchases in Northern Nigeria to September 30, were 

 10,610 bales, as compared with 603 biles for the same period 

 of last year, and 523 bales for 1914. 



Satisfactory arrangements have now been made for ship- 

 ping the cotton to Liverpool, and it is hoped that practically 

 the whole of last season's crop will have been .'^hipped to Liver- 

 pool by the end of the year. The reports of the growing crop 

 in Nigeria are very satisfactory, and it is estimated that the 

 crop will amount to between 30,000 and 40,000 bales. 



uciANDA. The prospects for cotton in all districts for 

 next season are excellent, and the estimates both from 

 Government and commercial sources point to a crop of 40,000 

 bales, which compares with 18,000 bales for last year, and 

 about 40,000 bales for the year prior to the war. There has 

 been considerable congestion of traffic in L^ganda, but the 

 transport ditficulties are now less acute, and there is reason to 

 believe that the balance of last season's crop will reach Liver- 

 pool early in the new year. 



Statement was submitted of sales of cotton made since 

 last meeting, showing that 4,759 bales have been sold during 

 the month. It is estimated that next season the Association 

 will be called upon to finance a total of about 70,000 bale.s 

 of cotton, which on the basis of present prices is valued at 

 £1,500,000. 



