32 



would give place to other varieties. In St. Kitts the value of the 

 industry was over £l 20,000 a year, and but for the varieties the 

 industry would have been extinguished. 



In reply to a question, Dr. Watts stated that in no instance had 

 the Bourbon been brought to maturity in St. Kitts since the disease 

 had attacked it. 



Asked whether some seedlings were not also subject to disease 

 Dr. Watts replied in the affirmative, but pointed out that those 

 which proved unsatisfactory could easily be discarded. 



Mr. O'Neale asked if there was any decrease in the cane crop 

 planted after cotton. 



Dr. Watts said, on the contrary, there was an increase. 



The President said it had recently been stated in the Agricultural 

 News that no apparent difference was noticed as a result, but an 

 increased amount of manure was necessary. In St. Kitts they 

 were quite satisfied they could grow cotton as a rotation crop. 



In reply to Mr. Howell Jones, Dr. Watts said the substitution of 

 new canes should never be made on a wholesale scale until they 

 were satisfied that the variety was immune from disease. The 

 changes were to be carried on cautiously and not suddenly, or in 

 a violent and drastic way. The extension of varieties should be 

 entered on not in a spasmodic effort as the result of a panic, but 

 as an integral part of a planter's work. 



Mr. Bovell mentioned that three seedlings had remained free 

 from disease over several years now. 



Mr. Bovell next read a paper on experiments with seedlings in 

 Barbados. The first experiments in seedling production in the 

 Empire were started in Barbados in 1888, and the experiments had 

 been continued and brought up to date in 1905. The experiments 

 comprised manurial tests and raising new seedlings ; also the 

 increase of saccharose in seedlings. So far they were dealing 

 with 6,759 new seedlings, and Q5 of these were considered good 

 enough to recommend to the planters. Whilst Mr. Bovell was 

 reading his paper the earthquake occurred, and the proceedings 

 were brought to an abrupt close by that tragic event. 



The Conference was resumed on board the Port Kingston on 

 Saturday morning, whilst on the way to Barbados. All the 

 delegates from the other colonies and Sir Alfred Jones and the 

 honorary members among his party were present. 



Mr. J. R. Bovell gave a resume of the position of the cotton 

 industry in Barbados. The industry, he said, had proved 

 remunerative, and had extended rapidly. In a few years it had 

 grown from 16 acres to 5,000 acres, The increase was well 

 illustrated at Stirling plantation. In 1 904 the owner had planted 

 34 acres, in 1905 he had put in 56 acres and in IQ06, 90 acres. 



Mr. F. J. Clarke referred to the formation of the Cotton Company 

 to buy cotton from growers, and explained the methods adopted 

 to secure careful and clean picking by the labourers in the fields. 

 The present crop at Barbados had proved a failure in part. The 

 bolls had fallen in dry weather, and the heavy rains had caused 

 mildew. Diseases had appeared ; but he thought if all the 



