86 



TH EAGRICULTQRAL NEWS. 



March 24, iai7. 



COTTON. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



Messrs. Wolstenholiiie and Holland, of Liverpool, 

 write as follows, under date February .5, 1917, with 

 reference to the sales i>f West Indian Sea Island 

 cotton: — 



Owing to the absence ■ f stock, no business has been 

 reported in West Indian .Sea Island cotton since our last 

 report, but the market for Sea Island cotton is firm at 

 previous prices. 



k Co. on 

 the week 



The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost 

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States for 

 ending Februar} 24, 1917. is as follows: — • 



l.->LAXDS. The sales of the week consisted of 74 bales 

 Extra Fine odd bags at 53c . and some small lots on a basis 

 of Fine at .50c- The crop has been nearly all disposed of, 

 there being left unsold only several I'lanters' crops of Extra 

 Fine held at 5.5c. to 70e., 14(> odd bags Extra Fine held at 

 53c., and some small lots of tinged and stained cotton. The 

 buying continues on account of the Northern Milk. 



We (]iiote;-- 



Fully Fine to Extra Fine. 53c. = 55c. landed 



Fine 50c. = 52c. 



Fine, slightly off 4."<c. = 50c. 



GEORGIAS AND FLoEiiiAs. The demand has continued 

 both in Savannah and in the interior markets, resulting in 

 large sales aggregating upwards of 2,500 bales, on account 

 of the Northern Mills. This demand following the large sales 

 previously reported, estimated during the past fortnight at 

 aboHt 10,000 bales, has rendered holders firmer in their views 

 and unwilling sellers except at an advance of Ic. over prices 

 previously paid. The unsold stock yet to be disposed of, 

 is estimated at 15,000 bales to 20,000 bales, which is finnly 

 held in strong hands. The impression is that it will all be 

 required by the mills in this country before the next 

 crop conies to market as Egyptian cotton is relatively dearer 

 and difficult to import. 



We quote, viz: — 



GEORGIAS AND FLORIDAS. 



Extra Choice to Fancy 



Extra Choice 



Choice 



The exports from Savannah for 

 to Northern Mills, 2,172 bales, Southern Mills, 357 



50c. = 5Hc. landed. 

 49c. = 50ic. „ 

 48c. = 49U 



the week were, 



bales, 

 bales. 



and from Jacksonville to Northern Mills, .521 



BRITISH COTTON GROWING 

 ASSOCIATION 



The One Hundred and Fifty sixth Meeting of the 

 Council was held at the Offices, 1 5, Cross Street, Manchester 

 on Tuesday. February 6. In the absence of the President 

 (The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Derby, E.G.), Mr. .1. Arthur 

 Hutton occupied the Chair. 



It was reported that the President of the Board of 

 Trade had arranged to receive a deputation representative of 

 the Lancashire cotton trade on Thursday morning the 

 8th instant, with regard to the cotton situation generally. 



It was reported that the Association had recently given 

 2 bales of African cotton to a Gift and Auction Sale which 

 was held on January 24, in aid of the Lancashire Perma- 

 nently Disabled .Soldiers' and SailorsHomes, and that these 

 bales had realized nearly £1,000. 



WEST AFEii A Practically the whole of last .season's 

 cotton has now been shipped, and the Association are 

 endeavouring to arrange for the shipment of a quantity of 

 cotton seed, of which there are several thousand tons at the 

 ginneries. 



As regards the terminal facilities at Lagos, the Govern- 

 ment have de'jided to reverse the decision arrived at in 1913, 

 and to make the railway terminus and ocean steamer wharf 

 at Apapa instead of at A'ilmot Point. Pending the dredging 

 of a 26 feeD channel to Apapa from near Five Cowrie Creek, 

 the Apapa Wharf is being extended so &.- to accommodate 

 the branch steamers as well as the Harbour Moles stone 

 traffic, but it is hoped that the full extension of 945 feet will 

 be completed by the time that the channel to it has been 

 dredged. A new dredger for the purpose has been built and 

 is being sent out to Liigcs. 



The final purchases for cotton in Lagos for the year 1916 

 amounted to 9,2.~'6 bales, and in Northern Nigeria to 10,746 

 bales, making a ti^tal of 20.032 bales, and satisfaction was 

 expressed that the total crop in Nigeria had fcT the first 

 time exceeded I'O.OOO bales. 



During the month of January thi-s year 46 bales] of 

 cotton were purchased in Lago>, as compared with 155 bales 

 in January la.st year, and 36 bales in January 1915. In 

 Northern Nigeria 1,060 bales were purcha.sed for the four 

 weeks ending January 27, as compared with l,4f<5 bales 

 for .January last year, and 24 bales for January 1915. 



UGANDA. The transport difficulties in the interior of 

 Uganda are practically over, but there is still great difficulty 

 in obtaining space on the ocean steamers. The new cotton 

 crop has sutf'ered from unfavourable climatic conditions, and 

 the Association's local manager now estimates the crop at 

 30,000 bales, as compared with his previous estimate of 

 40,000 bales. It was mentioned that during the quarter 

 ecding September 30, 1916, 1,455,449 ft), of cotton, 

 produced in the Ka-r Africa and Uganda Protectorates, were 

 exported to the United Kingdom, and 1,403,092 lb. to 

 India and Burma. The cotton is most .seriously wanted in 

 Lancashire, but unfortunately the heavy rates of freight now 

 demanded by the British Steamship Companies for bringing 

 the cotton to this country are acting as a most serious 

 handicap to the Lancashire Cotton Spinners. Under present 

 conditions the Bombay Spinners are able to buy Uganda 

 cotton on much nioM> advantageous teriris than Lancashire, 

 but the opinion was expressed that this was only temporary, 

 and in the long run it will be found that Liverpool was the 

 best market for Igunda cotton. 



NY.\SALANii. Letter from the Director of Agriculture 

 was read expressing regret that the native crop of the river 

 districts has sutl'ercd so much from frost in the middle and 



