A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW 



OF THE 



IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES. 



I.UikAkV 

 NL'W YORK 

 BOIANICAL 



Vol. IV. No. 79. 



BARBADOS, APIUL 22, 190-'). 



Pkick 1(/. 



CONTENTS. 



T a Conference of cotton growers held at 

 , -^Mrfrwj]] Barbados on Ajjril 14. last, an interesting 

 Tfi SswHi^ discussion took place in regard to the 

 ^ desirability or non-desirability of ratooning Sea Island 

 s: cotton. 



'i'o ' I'atoon ' is well known in the West Indies. 

 For instance, sugar-canes are ratoono<l when the I'ipe 

 stems are cut, and the stools lel't in the ground are 

 allowed to throw out fresh steins to be reaped at the 

 end of the following season. The yield from ratooned 

 canes is not nearly so large a.s from the plant canes, 

 but planters in certain districts are compelled to a<lopt 

 the .system in spite of the drawbacks attached to it. 



With Sea Island cotton the case is entirely 

 (li ferent. This special variety, evolved by careful 

 selection and cultivation, has, for a long jxiriod, been 

 treated as an mi. mud, and the plant has apj)arently 

 become generally adapted to that routine. The best 

 results are therefore to bo lookcjd for when it is dealt 

 with in accordance with its accustomed habit. 



There is also a further point to be considered, and 

 that i.s the susceptibility of so highly cultivated a plant 

 to the attacks of insect and fungoid pests. The longer 

 the period during which the plant is exposed to its 

 enemies the more severely it is likely to suffer from 

 them. 



As the result of the experience acquired during 

 the last three years, ami following also the practice of 

 cotton growers in these islands more than 100 years 

 ago, it has been found that the best time to plant Sea 

 Island cotton is soon after the rains, expected about the 

 end of May or beginning of June. When, as sometimes 

 happens, these rains are light or arc followed by spells 

 of dry weather, the cotton plants are likely to suffer, 

 and, under exceptional circumstances, it may become 

 necessary to replant in July or August. But, taking 



