326 



THE AGKICULTURAL NEWS. 



October 20, 1906. 



ST. VINCENT COTTON FACTORY. 



The following information is extracted from 

 a report bj- the Agricultural Superintendent on the 

 working of the St. Vincent Cotton Factory for the 

 1905-6 crop: — 



The factory was again worked under the control of 

 the Imperial Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural 

 Superintendent being responsible for the proper carrying on 

 I if the work. 



The machinery gave no trouble and ran smoothly 

 throughout the period mentioned above, and I might add 

 here that not a single gin-knife was broken. Considering 

 that the crop was the heaviest so far handled, this point must 

 be taken as reflecting much credit on the officers concerned 

 in working the factory. 



The factory was opened for the receipt of seed-cotton on 

 December 5, 190.5, and on December 21, ginning was started 

 and continued at fairly regular intervals until May 9, when 

 ■work was finished. 



The total weight of seed-cotton sent to be ginned was 

 43.5,671 lb., which gave 121,174 lb. of lint. The percentage 

 weight of lint to seed-cotton for the whole crop was 27 '8, or 

 .slightly higher than last season. At the commencement of 

 the season, the percentage weight of lint to seed-cotton was 

 as low as 25 per cent. This was due, in some measure, to 

 the insufficient drying of the seed-cotton. The percentage 

 gradually rose during the months of February, March, and 

 April, and in one case it worked out as high as -35 per cent. 



A large amount of seed-cotton was insufficiently sunned 

 and opened before being sent to the factory, which caused 

 a loss in ginning, lint passing through the grids of the gins 

 with the seed. In one case, the seed-cotton sent in was so 

 damp that, when stored, a considerable amount of heat was 

 generated. 



The 121,174 lb. of lint above mentioned were made up 

 into .362 bales, the majority of which contained 360 tti. net. 



ANTIGUA COTTON FACTORY. 



A special meeting of persons interested in the 

 Antigua cotton industry', presided over by his E.xcel- 

 lency the Governor, was held at the Agricultural 

 Society s room on Friday, September 21, for the object 

 of receiving the report of a committee appointed in 

 April last to formulate proposals for the formation of 

 a company to take over and work the Government 

 cotton ginnery. 



After a few introductory remarks, his Excellency 

 called upon the Hon. D. McDonald to read the report, 

 which was as follows : — 



The cuuiniittee appointed by his Excellency the Governor 

 to consider the formation of a company to take over the 

 working of the ginning machinery now run by the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture beg to report as follows ■ — 



By the kindness of his Excellency, we had the advantage 

 of an interview with Sir Daniel Morris and Dr. Watts 

 immediately the committee was appointed, and Sir 1 )aniel 

 gave us all possible information regarding the formation and 

 working of the ginning as.sociation in Barbados. 



At this meeting it was agreed that the committee should 

 ascertain from the local Government and from the British 

 Cotton-growing Association what sums they would be willing 

 to take for their respective interests in the present factory, 

 and on what terms a transfer would be made. 



The local Government agreed to accept the .sum of £40 

 for their interest in the factory in Antigua, and to rent the 

 building at a nominal rent of 6(/. per year, subject to the 

 condition that the association would keep the building in 

 order, or that the Government should charge by way of rent 

 a sum sufficient to cover the cost of repairs. 



The British Cotton-growing Association at first offered 

 to exchange their interest in the plant for shares : the 

 committee objected to this offer, and the Honorary Secretary- 

 wrote on June 22 offering the association, as authorized by 

 the committee, the sum of £175 cash for their interest in 

 the factory, asking at the same time for a reply by cable. 

 A cable rejily was received on August 29 accepting this 

 offer. . . . 



It now remains for the cottoa growers, knowing the 

 terms on which the entire machinery can be purchased, and 

 having the working of that factory for the last crop before 

 them, to form an association to take over and run the factory. 



COTTON IN ST. MARTIN. 



Mr. D. .1. vanliomondt writes to the St. Kitt's Dadij 

 Express that there is now an area of 800 acres in St. Martin 

 devoted to the cultivation of Sea Island cotton. The cotton 

 that has been produced during the last two years has sold in 

 the Liverpool market at prices rivalling those obtained in 

 neighbouring islands. 



This year 100 bales of Sea Island cotton have been 

 exported from St. Martin, and it is estimated that, should 

 weather conditions continue favourable, there will be an 

 increase of 500 ]ier cent, next season. 



Cotton Worm in St. Vincent. Although the 



cotton wcirm has made its appearance this season in 

 St. Vincent, it has not, so far, done any extensive damage. 

 This is apparently to be attributed to the work of its natural 

 enemies in keeijing it in check. Planters are advised to be 

 prepared to dust their cotton with Paris green if necessary. 



