Vol. XVI. No. 384. 



THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS 



such as those prepared from corn, Guinea corn, sweet 

 potatoes, bananas, breadfruit and others, in the 

 making of bread. By such a process there would result 

 si decreased demand for imported Hour and an increased 

 consumption of locally grown food, with the concom- 

 itant stimulation of local enterprise and ingenuity. 

 This aspect of the case deserves the consideration of 

 the local Governments who require large quantities of 

 bread for the use of various public institutions. 



It may be noted that of recent years there have 

 been considerable additions to the supplies of foods 

 produced in the West Indies and British ( luiana. The 

 most notable is the development of the important rice 

 industrj' of British Guiana, whereby that C "olony is now 

 supplied with rice of its own production, and an export 

 trade of considerable magnitude is being built up. In 

 1915 the export of rice alone amounted to !>,230 tons 

 valued at some £134,907: in addition to this a 

 very large quantity is consumed within the colony. 

 The cultivation of rice is also becoming important 

 in Trinidad. There are limitations to the extension of 

 this industry in the West Indian i.-ilands, for rice 

 appears to be intimately associated with Hast Indians 

 and low-lying country — conditions that are not widely 

 met with, so little expansion of this industry can be 

 looked for north of Trinidad. 



It may not be generally recognized that the cotton 

 industry has contributed in no unimportant degree 

 to the food supply of these islands. There is now 

 a large output of cotton-seed oil which finds a ready 

 local sale. The importance of this aspect of the case 

 may be recognized when it is stated that the output of 

 cotton seed in the West Indies last year must have 

 exceeded 1,880 tons, a (juantity which would be 

 capable of producing some 7.5, 300 gallons of oil. 

 Indirectly, too, cotton is capable of contributing 

 largely to the food supply through the cotton-seed meal 

 which results from the expression of the oil. This meal 

 is capable of forming an important addition to the food 

 of cattle and thus of increasing the output of milk and 

 beef. It may be regretted that this application is not at 

 jiresent made as full use of as is possible and desirable. 



Another addition to the tood supply arises from 

 the increased cultivation of coco-nuts, t'oco-nut oil is a 

 valuable article of food, while the meal remaining after 

 the expression of the oil is a valuable food for cattle; it 

 has the advantage, not possessed Ijy cotton-seed meal, 

 that it may be used as food fur pigs, anil should tend 

 to make pig-raising an easy and remunerative business, 

 with the consequent increase of locally produced food. 



It must be admitted that there are extensive 

 opportunities for the production and use of locally 

 grown food supplies, though skill, care, and patience 

 will be necessary in realizing them. In order to 

 stimulate progress it is necessary to create sound 

 public opinion on this question — an object which 

 may be obtained by ventilating it in meetings of 

 representative bodies such as the Agricultural and 

 Commercial Societies, and through the activities of 

 officers of the several Departments of Agriculture. 

 It is extremely desirable that vigorous efforts should 

 be made to ensure more lively activity in this 

 connexion. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool, 

 write as follows, under date December 11, 1916, with 

 reference to the sales of West Indian Sea Island 

 cotton: — 



We have nothing to add to our last report with regard 

 to West Indian Sea Lsland cotton but e.tpect when the new 

 crop comes in quantity on the market it will command good 

 prices. 



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

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week 

 ending December -2, 1916, is as follows: — 



ISLANDS. There has been no change in the market this 

 week. The receipts were 22-5 bale.s, sales 78 bales. All of 

 the limited offerings of Fine were taken at 52c., and of 

 Extra Fine at -j-'jc. to 56c., but at the close of the week with 

 advanced quotations in Sivannah, Factors have advanced 

 their prices he. to Ic. Consequently quotations are advanced 

 for — 



Fine to 52k. to 53c. = 54c. to 54.'.c. landed. 



Extra Fine to 56c. = 57ie. 



There have been no sales as yet of planters' crop lots of 

 E.vtra Fine. 



cEORGiAS ANi> Fi.OEiDAS. The buying on account of 

 the Northern Mills continues active, taking all offerings at 

 hardening and advancing prices, so that the market closed 

 very firm at Ic. higher. The shipments to the mills you will 

 note are very large, notwithstanding the embargo on freight 

 by the New Haven Kiilroad, the total this week from Savan- 

 nah being 3,312 bales, and from Jacksonville 2,236 bales, 

 aggregating 5,.")4S bales. At this rate the crop is disappear- 

 ing very rapidly, and the unsold portion of the crop is getting 

 into strong hands, the planters and small holders having 

 disposed of their stocks very largely. 



We quote, viz: — 



GEOEGIAS AND PLOEID.IS. 



E.v;tra Choice and Fancy 52c. to 53c = 53.Vc to 54ic. landed^ 

 Choice and Extra Choice 52c. = 53jc. 



The exports from Savannah for the week were, t > 

 Liverpool 100 bales. Southern Mills 109 bale.--, Nortbeiu 

 Mills 3,103 bales, ;uid from Jacksonville to N'orihern Mills 

 2,236 bales. 



