44 



fences. When the plants arrive at the height of sixteen inches, they 

 are then to be topped ; a dry day must be chosen for that purpose 

 and about an inch of the uppermost part of the plant is lopped 

 off, as well as of the principal branches. This operation produces 

 a number of branches to protrude from the principal stem, and 

 spreads the tree, without permitting it to run into high wood. At 

 this time the cotton ought to be hilled up, and as strong a mould- 

 ing given as will secure it in an erect situation. When the 

 autumnal rains commence, it will be necessary to top all the trees 

 that have grown above four feet in height and reduce them all to 

 one elevation, permitting the branches that spread horizontally to 

 enjoy that situation uninjured. Cotton should never be permitted 

 to rise heigher than six feet, as the pods, in their green state, form 

 a great weight, and are broken clown, if too tall, by every breeze. 

 Whenever the crop ends, cut all down within two feet of the 

 ground, and treat the ratoon, in the autumn, in the same manner 

 as before directed. 



When the season for picking arrives, the whole attention ought 

 to be directed to gathering it. Take none but what is fully open 

 and dry, never intrude on the half opened pod. The wool should 

 be pendant and in a state of complete separation ; so taken, it 

 saves the great labour of whipping, which is a tedious process and 

 injures the seed. The wool should be laid under cover, in order 

 to dry the seed. When brought to the gin, it should be exposed 

 to the sun, as, the drier it is, the more easily will it pass the 

 machine. 



The gin, the great article of labour, ought to be so constructed 

 as to give great effect to its mechanism. Three pair of rollers 

 may be worked longitudinally with the same wheel ; two negroes 

 driving and three feeding such a gin, should clear one hundred 

 and eighty pounds weight a day with ease. 



When the caterpillar attacks the cotton in the early part of the 

 year, they may be permitted to fly off unmolested but if they 

 come in the season when the tree begins to blossom, they must be 

 destroyed, or they will destroy the crop. If the land is clear, 

 simply shaking them off the tree will be sufficient, as the ants 

 will kindly take the part of the planter, and prevent their return. 

 But if the ground is full of weeds, they must be killed as you take 

 them. The red fly is a constant companion of the cotton in open- 

 ing, but seldom does much mischief, except by soiling the wool. 



When once cotton is established, a crop of corn may be always 

 taken along with it, without injury. It should be great corn, if 

 possible, as that is taken in before the tree begins to blossom. 



II. — COTTON EXPORTED FROM THE WEST INDIES AND GUIANA 



IN 1799. 



Extract from " History of the Negro Slave Trade" by ROBERT 

 BlSSET. Two Vols. London. 1805, pp. 342-343* 



I have been at very great pains to learn the relative state and 



* Communicated by H. E. Sir J. A Swettenham. 



