374 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



December 1, 1906, 



SEA ISLAND COTTON MARKET. 



The ' Sea Island Cottcm Report ' of Messrs. Henry 

 W. Frost & Co., of Charlestt)n and Savannah, dated 

 October 27, 1906, has the following :— 



IdaiirJs. — The market was opened this week by the sale 

 (if all of the offerings of odd bags at 28c. for fully fine, and 

 27c. for fine. There was also some demand for croii lots, 

 resulting in .sales of four crops at .3.5c. to 40c. 



Owing to the very unfavouraVile report of the probable 

 out-turn of the crop, causing estimates to be reduced to about 

 9,000 bags, factoi-s are very firm in their views, and are 

 holding the small receipts of odd bags for Ic. to 2c. advance, 

 and crop lots for their full asking prices. 



CROP .\r)VI('ES. 



The United States (Jenus Bureau reimrts the amount of 

 Sea Islands ginned to October 1*?, to be only 11,982 bags. 



Total Crop. 



The amount ginned in 190.") to .same date 



was 30,238 bags . 



„ „ ,, „ 1904 to same date 



was 31,691 bags . 



,, ,, ,, „ 1903 to same date 



was 1 6, 1 1 8 bags . 



Consequentl}', although this crop is reported to be a late 

 one, the amount ginned to date this year seems to confirm 

 all small crop estimates and encourages the planters to bold 

 for very full prices. 



123,870 bag.s. 

 102,190 „ 

 76,409 „ 



ANTIGUA COTTON FACTORY, LIMITED. 



This conipanj^ has been incorporated, under the 

 Companies Act (No. 20 of 1(S.S4) of the Leeward Islands, 

 with a capital of £1,000, divided into 100 ordinary 

 shares of £10 each. The following is extracted fi-om 

 the prospectus : — 



1. This company has been formed for the purpose of 

 buying out the interest of the Government of Antigua, as 

 well as that of the Hritish Cotton-growing Association, in 

 the machinery, plant, etc., at present housed in the Govern- 

 ment buildings known as the Cotton Factory, and to work it 

 as a going concern from the first day of .January 1907. 



2. It is proposed to add to the number of gins to enable 

 the company to deal with increased supply of seed-cotton. 

 The directors have already imported two additional gins. 



3. It is further jiroposed to erect a branch ginnery at 

 English Harbour, should suHicient inducement be offered and 

 suitable premises be secured. 



4. The directors have also in view the question of : — 



('() Buying seed-cotton from small growers. 



(h) ]\Iaking advances to small growers of cotton to- 

 enable them to reap their crops. 



((•) Erecting machinery for crushing cotton seed 

 for stock food and (if the industry develops 

 sufficiently) for extracting oil from cotton seed. 



(d) And generally to carry on and develop the 

 work which has been started by the Govern- 

 ment for the benefit of the cotton industry of 

 Antigua. 



SEASONABLE NOTES. 



Do not commence picking cotton too early in 

 the morning, but wait until the sun has been up 

 sufficiently long to dry the dew which has fallen in 

 the night. Also, after a shower of rain wait until 

 the sun has dried the seed-cotton before picking is 

 resumed. 



The double picking bag is proving to be most u.seful. 

 The bag is hung round the picker's neck, and has in front 

 a pocket attached, into which all stained cotton is placed. 

 It has the advantage of enabling all stained cotton to be 

 separated from the clean cotton directly it is picked. The 

 bag should be 2 feet long and IS inches wide. The pocket 

 should be half the size of the bag, i.e., about 1 foot by 

 18 inches. 



A very important feature in St. Vincent is the sorting 

 of the seed-cotton. When it is brought into the house it is 

 very carefully assorted, and nothing is allowed to pass as 

 first class which is stained in the slightest degree. 



On one estate in St. Vincent a very useful tray has been 

 adopted for the use of the people when assorting seed-cotton. 

 It is round, with a diameter of about 30 inches. The rim is 

 made of wood, and the centre of a woven mesh work of 

 fine cane. The tray is placed on the knee, and as the seed- 

 cotton is thrown on to the tray it is spread out — a process 

 which enables all the stained and undesirable seed-cotton to 

 be easily picked out. The trays are made locally, and cost 

 about id. each. 



Sunning frames are this year being made by planters 

 in all the West India Islands. These will be found to be of 

 very great service, especially after such a wet season as has 

 been experienced this year. 



Unless the seed-cotton is well dried it is impossible to 

 gin it properly, and such cotton realizes a much lower price 

 on the market than cotton which has been perfectly ginned. 



It would be well for planters to understand that it pays 

 best when no pains are spared to put on the market 

 a well-prepared product. The best possible price is paid for 

 such an article, and spinners learn to look out for the same 

 mark. 



