390 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



Decembek 7, 1912, 



WEST INDIAN COTTON. 



Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool, 

 write as follows, under date November 18, with reference 

 4o the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton : — 



West Indian Sea Islands have been in moderate request 

 since our last report and sales comprise about 200 bales 

 cbiefly Leeward Islands cotton from \2d. to 14(/., with 

 a few extra fine New Crop lots of Barbados and St. Kitts 

 from 18c?. to 19c/. The medium qualities between I5d. 

 and 18c/. are quite neglected, there bting very little demand 

 for the yarns for which they are used. Prices remain firm 



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

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week 

 ending November 1 6, is as follows: — 



There continued a demand for all the offerings of the 

 receipts classing Fine to Extra Fine off in class, at prices 

 ranging from 22c. to 26c., and .some small sales were made 

 of Extra Fine at 29c. There was also some inquiry for Fully 

 Fine, which did not result in any ,>ales. 



Factors are not very willing sellers at our (juotations, 

 as the report of cotton ginned, and the continued .small 

 receipts, together with unfavourable reports from the planta- 

 tions, has resulted in crop estimates being reduced to 8,000 

 to 10.000 bales. 



c.i.f., ii 5 per cent. 



BRITISH COITON GROWING ASSOCIA- 

 TION. 



The following account of a recent meeting of the 

 Council of this Association has just been received: — 



The one hundred and fifth meeting of the Council of the 

 British Cotton Growing Association was held at the offices, 

 15 Cross Street, Manchester, on Tuesday, November 5, 

 -Mi. j. Arthur Hutton occupied the chair. 



A letter was real from the President, the Right Hon. 

 The Eirl of Derby, G C.V O., regretting his inability to 

 attend as he had intended; but his presence was necessary at 

 a meeting in Liverpool in connexion with the threatened 

 carters' st rike. 



AVE.sT AiiuoA. The purchises of cotton in Lagos to the 

 end of October amount tn 9.0.3.5 bales, as compared with 

 5,368 lules for the .same period of last year, and 5,575 bales 

 for 1910 The purchases in Northern Nigeria to date are 

 2,326 bales, as compared with about 500 bales for the whole 

 of the previous season. The new crop in Northern Nigeria 

 will begin to come forward towards the end of the present 

 month, and there is every indication that the production will 

 show a considerable increase over that of any previous season, 

 and it is estimated that some 7,000 bales will be produced 

 this year 



NYAs.^L.4Ni). It was reported that the crop in the Port 

 Herald district is now coming in in small quantities, but tha 

 cotton is again mixed owing to the fact that the natives 

 have not destroyed the old season's plants which have agaia 

 cropped; it was felt that the only solution of this difficulty 

 ■was to have a close season for cotton and ensure that all 

 plants are rooted up every year. It was decided that repre- 

 sentations should lie made to the Agricultural Department if 

 it is found that the cotton is badly stained when it arrives 

 in this country. 



A letter was read from the Director of Agriculture for 

 Nyasaland suggesting that the A.ssociation should establish 

 a small ginnery in the Upper Shire District, where during 

 the last season over 80 tons of seed cotton was produced, 

 and the crop now being harvested promises to show a con- 

 siderable increase, over 100 tons of native-grown cotton 

 having already been purchased. The matter is under con- 

 sideration, but it was pointed out that it was most expensive 

 to establish these pioneer ginneries, as an expenditure of 

 something like £10,000 to £20,000 per annum would be 

 necessary for some years if present developments were ta 

 cnntinue. The question of the continuance of the Govern- 

 ment grant, which expires on March 31, next, will very 

 shortly have to be brought forward, and the opinion was 

 expressed that the Association should not be expected to 

 continue this piorleer work unaided. 



soDAN. Reports have been received stating that oa 

 the whole the cotton at /eidab is looking healthy and prom- 

 ising, and at Tayiba the crop looks fairly healthy with the 

 exception of a few patches which have been attacked by the 

 cotton- flea and Asl. The cotton at Tayiba which has been 

 planted on land under cultivation last year looks stronger 

 than that which has been sown on new land. 



