22 



THE AGP.ICULTUEAL NEWS. 



Jamahy 20, 190(>. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



Tlie ' Sf a Islaiul Cotton Report ' of Messrs. Henry 

 ^\'. Frost & Co., of Charleston .ind Savannah, dated 

 I>ecember 1(J, 1905. lias the following: — • 



Islaiidf. — The market remained unchanged, with only 

 a moderate demand for fully tine at 24c. and extra fine at 

 26c. Notwithstanding that there was no inquiry in the 

 market for fine at 23c., factors are refusing to lower prices 

 and continue to hold firndy the three grades for the 

 above figures. 



There has been some inquiry for crop lots, but it has 

 resulted in the sale of only one lot at 29c., as factors are 

 refusing to accept the lower offers made. 



A week later the .same firm reports : — 



The market has been quiet and unchanged during the 

 week, with sales only of 117 bales of extra fine at 26c. 

 "With no improvement in demand, however, to effect sales, 

 factors will in time have to lower their prices. 



COTTON PLANTING IN ST. KITT'S. 



As showing what was dcaie in St. Kitt's in 1001 

 in the matter of starting the cotton industry in tliat 

 island, the following, coumiunicated by Mr. F. E. 

 Shepherd, Agricultural Superintendent, may be of 

 interest : — 



At the request of Dr. Francis Watts, I am forwarding 

 to you, herewith, a statement showing the amount of 8ea 

 Island cotton planted in 8t. Kitt's in the latter part of the 

 year 1901. 



This cotton was planted by ilessrs. Sendall and Wade 

 on their estates as trial plots, and a small lot was also planted 

 by Hon. B. S. Davis at Lamberts estate at -Mr. Wade's 

 rec[uest. 



From this statement it would appear that about 20 acres 

 f.f Sea Island cotton were planted, giving a return of 2,689 fi). 

 of lint, in the year 1901. 



Statement of Cotton Cvltivation in St. Kitt's in 1901. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON. 



The following is extracted from an article in- 

 Trojiivul Life, for December 1905 : — 



It behoves the West Indies and other centres to 

 make the most of this excellent opiiortunity and }>usb 

 ahead in their endeavours to inerea.se the output of supplies 

 from their islands. In these days of over-production and 

 over tradiiiL.', it is ;i pleasure to hear of one product that in 

 wanted, and those who have gone in for Sea Island cotton 

 will do well to remember this. 



The main drawback to Sea Island cotton is its small 

 yield, as compared with other varieties, and also its tendency to 

 attract pests. In this it greatly resembles the mild cinnamon- 

 red CrioUo cacao, aa conipaied with the darker, stronger, and 

 hardier Forastero kind, the first one bearing less, but .selling 

 for more; yet, in spite of that, its delicate nature has driven it 

 out of cultivation inmost places in favour of hardier kinds. 

 "With cotton, however, with a careful process of selection and 

 cultivation, the plague of pests can, to some degree, be- 

 eliminated, and as tlie areas .suitable for Sea Island nnist of 

 neces.sity be so restricted, as it cannot successfully be raised 

 inland w ithout deteriorating, those who have the genius and 

 jiatience to raise it would be well advised to take up the 

 indu.stry, if they arc determined to go through with it. 



BUYING COTTON. 



Tlie following note on buying cotton is extracted 

 from Monies The Strudure of iltc Cotton Fibre: — 



The buyer of cotton ought to be a man of long and 

 varied experience, not only theoretically, but in its 

 practical manipulation. Under ordinarj' circumstances, 

 therefore, the intelligent, careful, and conscientious mill 

 manager is the right and proper person for the post. If 

 conscientious, his own personal interest lies in getting the 

 cotton most suitable for his purjjose at the lowest price, as 

 the results will show in the working of his mill, and in the 

 reputation which he must realize accordingly. The operation 

 seems simple enough. General cleanness seems obvious, but 

 this is not all. I have seen two samples of cotton look equally 

 dirty, but in the one case the impurities were such that they 

 were eajiable of being removed without much damage to the 

 fibres, whereas with the other there would have been consider- 

 able loss. The worst impuritj- is 'nep,' the next irregular 

 fibres, then leaf and seed, and lastly sand. In an examination of 

 sami)les of cotton the presence of the.se impurities should be 

 carefully considered, and when that is done, it is time to 

 decide alxnit length and strength. Every one is familiar with 

 the rough and ready test of pulling out and breaking 

 between the fingers, and in the hands of an expert a very 

 accurate decision can be arrived at. 



