102 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



Maech 31, 1906. 



MANURES FOR COTTON. 



An interesting experiment in the use of cotton 

 seed (cake) meal, and crushed cotton seed as manure for 

 cotton, is given in Bulletin No. 70, of the Georgia 

 Experiment Station. 



In tliis ex|ieriuieiit, one series of plots was treated with 

 a fertilizer in which tlie nitrates were supplied in the cotton 

 seed (cake) meal, while in the other series, the nitrates were 

 .supplied in the crushed cotton seed. In other respets, the 

 fertilizers were alike, except that a slight diti'erence was 

 made in the potash and phosphate to 'balance' the manures 

 with regard to these substances. 



The make up of these fertilizers may be seen from the 

 accompanying table, which gives the estimated cost as well:— 



In addition to these, eacli plot received as a starter, 



nitrate of .soda at the time of planting, at the rate of 22 ft. 

 per acre. 



In the total yield of six plots (A acre), No. 2. gave 

 2 ft. of seed-cotton more than No. 1 on an equal area. 



The following conclusions are quotefl from this bulletin; — 



(1) That it is not expedient to use crushed cotton seed 

 directly as a fertilizer for a cotton crop, unless the distance 

 necessary to haul the seed and meal in effecting a .sale and 

 purcha.se, or an exchange, is too great to justify the substitu- 

 tion of cotton seed (cake) meal. 



(2) That for fertilizing a crop of cotton, 177 ft. cf 

 cotton seed (cake) meal is the effective equivalent of 409 ft. 

 of cotton seed to be properly 'balanced' and applied directly 

 to the soil : or 805 ft. of cotton seed (cake) meal is the 

 fertilizing equivalent of 2,000 ft. of cru.shed cotton seed. 



COTTON IN BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA. 



The first report on the cotton-growing indu.stry 

 in British Central Africa, by Mr. Samuel Simpson, 

 Cotton Expert, has been issued by the British Cotton- 

 growing Association. It deals with the growth of the 

 industry during the past three years, during which 

 time the exports had increased from £3 to £6,941. 



Labour is both plentiful and willing, but not very 

 efficient. Native cultivation is rather crude and primitive, 

 but there is a ready market for .seed-cotton, and the natives 

 ought to produce considerable quantities of cotton for sale. 



Transport charges are heavy, but the railway now in 

 process of construction will, in a few years, materially 

 improve the transport facilities. 



The kinds of cotton to grow are discussed, but, so far, 

 it does not appear that any one variety is suited to the 

 different localities, nor that any variety has been definitely 

 chosen as the best for any given section. Several, however, 

 are recommended for trial. 



Appendix A of the report deals with the matter of seed 

 selection, and outlines a scheme similar to the one now in 

 operation in the West Indies (see Wexf Indian Bulletin, 

 Vol. IV, p. 208). Appendix 15 deals with the insect pests 

 of cotton, the principal of which are the boll worm 

 {Ilcliot/us armiger), the cotton stainer {Di/sdercus sp.), and 

 the green fly (Aphididae). In addition to these, there are 

 the leaf-miners, stem borer, leaf-eating caterpillars, and 

 locusts. 



From this report it would seem that the cotton industry 

 is likely to succeed in British Central Africa, although at 

 present, it is in an experimental condition. 



COTTON IN ST. KITTS. 



In a letter to the Imperial Commissioner of 

 Agriculture, the Agricultural Superintendent at 

 St. Kitt's reports that account sales have been received 

 for 4 bales of cotton which sold for 17f/., the highest 

 price yet received for St. Kitt's cotton. 



This cotton was grown at La Guerite estate from 

 St. Vincent seed, and the yield is better than that of la.st 

 year, when the American Itiver's seed was jilanted. This 

 good price is likely to result in an extension of the cotton 

 industry next season. 



The yield in St. Kitt's is better this year than last, and 

 this, together with the present high prices, will be likely to 

 create a demand for specially selected and disinfected 

 St. Vincent seed. 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



The Sea Island Cotton Re])ort of Jlessrs. Henry 

 W. Frost &; Co., of Charleston, South Carolina, dated 

 February 24, 1906, contains the following: — 



Islands. — Were in active demand both for the crop lots 

 as well as for the odd bags, taking all of the offerings on the 

 market, and leaving now a very limited cjuantity of unsold 

 cotton, the crop being nearly all disposed of. 



The report dated March 3, 1906, reads as 

 follows : — 



Isknids. — The sales which were largely made in conjunc- 

 tion with those of last week, but ^\ ere not included in the 

 official report, have nearly e.xhausted the stock, and there 

 remains, to be disposed of, a very limited quantity of the crop. 



