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land should be thoroughly forked or ploughed and the heavy clods 

 broken so as to form a fine mould. In well-drained and dry situations 

 the land may remain flat, in others it may be arranged in ridges, 4 ft. 

 or 5 ft. apart, and the seed planted on the top or side of the ridge, de- 

 pending on the exposure. In cane lands already holed the seed may 

 be planted on the banks aroun I the holes. It would be of great ad- 

 vantage, in fields where the cotton plants are liable to be exposed to 

 strong winds, to plant beforehand head rows of pigeon peas and 

 guinea corn in order to afford protection during the early stages of 

 growth. On sugar estates cotton might be planted to leeward of 

 canes to be reaped after the cotton crop is gathered. 



SELECTION OF SEED. 



The use of good seed and its production by a regular system of selec- 

 tion aie just as important factors in the production of good cotton as 

 that of cultivation. It is recommended that only the best selected 

 seed, obtained direct from the Sea Island cotton districts of South 

 Carolina, be planted in the West Indies during 1904. Such seed may 

 be obtained at cost price through the Imperial Department of Agri- 

 culture on application to the local officers in each Island. 



Distance apart. 



The distance between the plants will depend on the soil and situation. 

 In light soils the plants may be as close as 3 feet by 1^ feet, in slightly 

 heavier and richer soils 5 feet by 20 inches, or 5 feet by 2^ feet. The 

 seeds may be dibbled by hand or by means of a * planter.' They should 

 be thinned when about 4 inches to 6 inches high, and only one plant 

 left in each hole. In light soils the seeds should be planted about 3 

 inches below the surface; in racher stifE soils 2 inches will be deep 

 enough. The soil should, in every case, be pressed firmly over the 

 seed. 



Season for Planting. 



The best time for planting will depend on the occurrence of the 

 summer rains. In localities where the rains fall in June, July or 

 August, cotton might be planted m either of these months. In others, 

 the planting may be as late as the beginning of September ; but should 

 dry weather set in early in December, cotton planted in September 

 would be liable to sufler. Early planting, when the circumstances 

 admit of it is regarded with favour as the plants become strong and 

 vigorous before they are attacked by disease. On the other hand, if 

 planted late, they mpy escape the attacks of the cotton worm, and the 

 expense of treating them with I'aris green and lime would be saved. 



The season of 1903 04 was so exceptional everywhere on account of 

 heavy rains and high winds, that it is impossible as yet to advise, with 

 any degree of confidence, the exnct period when Sea Island cotton 

 should be planted in the West Indies. There is litle doubt, however, 

 that advantage should be taken ui the early summer rains, whenever 

 they fall, to start the cultivation, and probably it will be found that 

 the planting season will extend in the different islands from the middle 

 or end of June to the beginning of September of each year. It is very 

 undesirable to plant cotton ul any time outside these months ; aod 

 during the present season, at all events, on account of the liability to 

 disease, it would be advantageous not to carry over the cultivation by 

 ratoons into the next season. 



