358 



THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. 



November 17, 19)7. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET 



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

 Sea Island cotton in the Southern States, for the week 

 ending October 20, 191 7, is as follows:— 



isLAJNDS. The receipts of the week were larger, and 

 admitted nf the Factors having better offerings. There was 

 only a limited demand, and with a quiet market there was 

 more disposition lo sell. Sales of about 200 bales Fully 

 Fine were made at 70c. taking a selection of the offerings of 

 the odd bags, the buying being on account of the Northern 

 Mills, but a bid of 68c. was refused for Fine. 



We quote, viz: 



Fine to Fully Fine 70c = 72c. c.i.f. 



GEORGIAS AND FLORiD.\s. There was an easier feeling in 

 the market the early part of the week, resulting in sales in 

 Savannah of about 500 bales on a basis of Extra Choice to 

 Fancy at 6Sc., taking such offerings as were seeking sale. 

 Towards the close of the week there was less disposition to 

 sell, as the interior markets, were firmer and higher, and 

 Factors refused to make further sales under Extra Choice to 

 Fancy 70c. 



The demand continues on account of the Northern Mills 

 which seem to require some early shipments. Unfortunately 

 fieight room is scarce and difficult to engage, and there is 

 also an embargo on certain New England points. 



We quote: 



GEORGIAS AND FLORIDAS. 



Extra Choice to Fancy 68c. to 70c. = 70c. to 72c. c.i.f. 

 The exports from Savannah for the week were, to 

 Northern Mills 25 bales. Southern Mills 43 bales, and from 

 Jacksonville to Northern Mills 1,683 bales. 



CROP ADVICES. The reports from the country continue 

 to confirm the damage done in certain sections by the boll 

 ■weevil, and the recent unseasonable cool weather has interfered 

 with the development of the plant in other sections. Conse- 

 quently the disposition is to reduce crop estimates, which 

 now range from 85,000 to 90,000 bales. 



buyers from the North failed to appear, and at the same 

 time the shortage of specie made it imperative for farmers 

 to find some means of paying their taxes. The Association 

 were buying cotton at their ginneries at a good price, and so 

 the tran^iport of cotton to Zaria began, and increased very 

 rapidly. The Sokoto Zaria road was for weeks filled with 

 donkeys, camels, oxen, and men carrying cotton to Zaria. 

 Sellers were pleased with the price realized, as being much 

 higher than tliat formerly received. The Resident concludes 

 that the growing of cotcon has received a jjreat stiinnlus in 

 all the eastern half of the Province, and states that u.i to 

 the time of his report the rains had been unusually gool. 



The purchases of cotton in La^os to August -jI, 

 amounted to 7,703 bales, as oompired with 9,134 bales for 

 the same period of 1916, and 5,748 bales for 1915. 



The purchases of cotton in Northern Nigeria to August 

 31, amounted to 3,713 bales, as compared with 10,522 bales 

 to August 31 last jear, and 531 bales in 1915. 



NVASAL.AND. It was I'eporteJ that arrangements had 

 been made for a special allocation of 500 tons of space by the 

 steamship lines for the monthly shipments of Nyasaland pro- 

 duce from Beira or Durban. This space, however, is only 

 available if the tonnage is not actually in excess of the priority 

 cargo arranged for each given month, so thit it is not 

 possible to say how much space will be available for cotton. 

 At the same it is considered that this concession will be of 

 great assistance in dealing with Nyasaland cotton during 

 the present season. 



THE BRITISH COTTON GROWING 

 ASSOCIATION. 



The One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Meeting of the 

 Council of the British Cotton Growing Association was held 

 at the Offices, 15 Cross Street, Manchester, on Tuesday, 

 October 2. 



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

 Earl of Derby, K.G.), Mr. .James Brown occupied the Chair. 



WE.?!' AFRICA. With the exception of about 200 bales 

 of cotton grown in the Meko district, all the cotton which 

 has been purchased in Nigeria this season has been received 

 in Liverpool. 



Efforts are now being made to ship as much cotton seed 

 as possible before ilie new crop begins to come in The 

 Association have about 5,000 tons of this seed, but in the 

 event of shipping facilities not being available, the bulk of 

 it will have to be destroyed, a.s there is very little demand 

 for the seed locally. 



A report was read from the Resident of the Sokoto 

 Province, Nigeria, dealing with the large development which 

 took place in cotton growing during the year 1916. The 

 Resident states that in former years all the cotton grown in 

 the Sokoto Province, after supplying local needs, was exported 

 to][tbe French Sudan. In the .season 1915-16 the usual 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST. 



TOKTOLA. During the month of September the following 

 plants and seeds were distributed from the Botanic Gardens: 

 sweet potato cuttings, 500; cabbage plants, 12-: cotton seed, 

 144B). The condition of the cotton and food crops in the 

 island, Mr. W. C Fishlock, the Curator, reports to be im- 

 proving, the Aveather recently having been more favourable. 

 There has been an increased demand for cotton .seed since the 

 alteration in the mode of buying cotton, namely, making the 

 first payment 12o. instead of 5c. No serious pests on cotton 

 or provision crops were reported. The weather was squally 

 towards the 21st. Rain fell in measurable quantity on 

 twenty days, the total precipitation being 4-36 inches as 

 compared with 490 inches, the average for the .'^ame month 

 for the previous sixteen years 



HARBUDA. From a report \>y Mr. C A. Gomez, .Agricul- 

 tural Instructor, forwarded to this Office by Mr. A E. Collens, 

 Acting Superintendent of Agriculture, Antigua, the foUowmg 

 matters of interest concerning the Government estate, 

 Barbuda, are abstracted. 



The general condition of the crops and of the stock is 

 reported as satisfactory. 



Work of a routine nature, consisting in keeping cotton 

 fields c'ean of weeds and grass, and supplying dead holes, 

 comprised the chief activities during the month. In the e^rly 

 part of Septen.ber about 10 acres of cotton were planted, 

 and notwithstanding the poor rainfall, very fair germination 

 was ob'ained. At the time of writing the Government's 

 cotton crop presented a fine appearance, and the prospects of 

 a good return are very hopeful. No insect pests of cotton 

 have been reporti'd, but towards the end of the month 

 the presence of inti rnal boll disease was discoveri.d, and speci- 

 mens of the infection were forwarded to the Head Office. 



Plant distribution at the Experiment Station included 

 5,000 sweet potato cuttings and 25 Bb. cotton seed. In 



