■i.i 



603. THE COTTON INDUSTRY. 



Much interest has 1 >i-i-n taken during the past year in the growth 

 of cotton. A large quantity of seed was procured by the Government 

 and distributed gratis to applicants. 



Two hand-power roller gins were, imported by the Government, 

 and a hand baling press is under way from England.*' The use of these 

 machines has been offered to the public free of charge, except for the 

 motive power, and a convenient building has been provided at St. 

 Clair lor their working and storage. The machines are also offered to 

 growers in the country free of charge, and under a caretaker and 

 instructor, where there is sufficient cotton to warrant their transport. 



Considerable areas have been planted with Sea Island Cotton, but 

 reports received of its growth, are for the greater part unfavourable 

 owing to attacks of insects and disease. The native or creole cotton, 

 which is believed to be short staple " Upland," does not suffer so- 

 much from disease, and a sample was recently received coming from 

 a single plant, which weighed 1*71 lbs. This gave on ginning "54 lbs. 

 of clean cotton. The sample was sent up by the Warden of Tacarigua.. 



Of the creole cotton there are several varieties, which appear 

 belong to the same class, but some of these have a much longer staple 

 than others. A process of selection already initiated, will probably 

 give a cotton possessing stronger vitality than " Sea Island," which 

 appears at present to be highly susceptible to the attack of insects 

 and disease, but it is hoped that with further experience of cul- 

 tivation these drawbacks may be avoided. It is certainly yet too 

 soon to speak positively on this point, as the variety has only been a 

 few months under cultivation. 



There is another acclimatized variety called " Kidney Cotton," 

 which commonly appears self-sown in many districts of the Island. 

 This shows a coarse and hard lint with large seeds. In regard to this. 

 a point may be mentioned. While this variety in the Experiment 

 Station has been attacked severely by disease, a plant growing in a 

 cottage garden close by is a picture of health and bears large quanti- 

 ties of cotton. 



We have, thus practically three varieties of cotton under 

 cultivation : — 



1. Sea Island. 



2. Kidney Cotton. 



3. Creole or Upland Cotton in several varieties. 



The value of these has been stated as follows by good authority : 

 Sea Island ... 1/Ojd. to l/4d. — 2oc. to 32c. 



Kidney Cotton „„. od. to 6d. — 10c. to 12e. 

 Creole or Upland ... Gd. to <Sd. — 12c. to 16c. 



It is to be hoped that local growers will not be discouraged by 

 the failures which generally accompany first attempts, but will give 

 the industry more extended trial, especially the variety known as 

 "• Sea Island." 



• Received 28th March. 



