278 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



September S, 1906. 



WEST INDIAN COTTON. 



Messrs. Wolstenholme & Holland, of Liverpool, 

 report as follows, under date of August 14, in regard to 

 West Indian cotton : — 



We have to report quiet markets lor We.st Indian Sea 

 Island descriptions during the past fortnight, without material 

 change in prices. 



Sales have been on a retail scale, and include Barbados, 

 loci, to 1.5i</. ; St. Kitfs, lot/, to 15^<7. ; and Antigua 

 {stained) at 7-|f?. 



EXPORTS OF COTTON FROM THE 

 WEST INDIES. 



The following is a statement (furnished by the 

 Customs Department in each case) showing the amount 

 and estimated value of Sea Island cotton exported from 

 the various West India Islands during the quarter 

 ended June 30, 1906 :— 



* 144 bags. 

 + 3 bags. 



No returns have been received from British 

 Guiana or Jamaica. 



Similar returns for the quarter ended March 81, 

 1906, were published in the Agrictdtural News, 

 Vol. V, p. 214. 



The total exports for the half-year have been 

 1,325,291 lb., of the estimated value of £57,195. For 

 the corresponding period of 1905 the exports were 

 899,625 It.., of the value of £36,915. 



ANTIGUA COTTON FACTORY. 



The following information is extracted from a report, 

 prepared by the" Hon. L>r. F. Watts, C.M.G., on the 

 working of the Antigua Cotton Factory for the past 

 season, up to July 20 : — 



Th- work of tlie ginnery has almost been completed; 483 

 bales have already been ginned, but it is possible that some 

 8 or 10 more may be forthcoming before the ginnery closes. 

 The bales are of 200 K). net, except that towards the end of 

 the croi>, when closing affairs, a few bales of odd weights are 

 produced. 



The expenses incurred for the whole of the .season, to 

 .July 20, amounted to £251 13s. '2d. The revenue from 

 •Tanuary 1, 1906, to end of crop 1906 was £508 5<. 9<i'. 



COTTON PLANTING IN ST. VINCENT. 



Mr. W. X. .Sands, Agricultural Superintendent, 

 has forwarded, under date August 17, the following 

 information in regard to the prospects of the cotton 

 crop in St. Vincent : — 



The estates generally have extended their cultivations, 

 and a much larger acreage than last season has been planted. 



A large number of small growers have also taken up the 

 industry. 



The total area planted is estimated at nearly double 

 that of last season, say, 1,400 acres. 



The young plants, in most cases, are growing well and 

 free from disease, although the rainfall of June at the 

 Botanic Station was 16-88 inches ; in July, 13'44 inches ; 

 and during the present month, to date, 1052 inches. 



On some estates washes occurred, but I have not heard 

 of any serious damage. 



The root borer of the sugar-cane and the mole-cricket 

 did some injury to young plants on one or two estates, as 

 also did a small leaf-eating beetle, but the attacks passed off 

 as the plants reached a certain size. 



Given fair weather conditions, the crop should surpass 

 all previous ones. 



COTTON GROWING IN ST. CROIX. 



The St. Croix Aris, of July 28, has the following 

 note on cotton growing in that island : — 



Cotton glowing continues to attract a good deal of 

 attention and is e.\tending. The broad expanse ]iut in by 

 the Plantation Company gives to the .south side of the East 

 End, formerly covered by worthless bush, a picturesque 

 aspect, speaking of industry and prosperity. Yesterday we 

 saw .several large pieces at Solitude covered with young 

 cotton plants, and the proprietor is still clearing land. 



