81 



cnisherl in a mill or reduced to a fine meal. The cost of grinding 

 cotton seed into a meal should not exceed 8c. f4d.) per 100 lb. Some 

 planters are crushing cotton seed in an ordinary com and cob crusher. 

 By this means it is possible to crush the seed as required and so pre- 

 vent its becoming mouldy Mouldy cotton seed is regarded as likely 

 to be injurious to all kinds of animals. It should be remembered that 

 <;otton seed, either whole or ground into meal, is a highly concentrated 

 food and it should be sparingly given to animals. It would be de- 

 sirable to mix it largely with other food 



Yield and cost of Production. 



These in the case of the Sea Island districts, are discussed on pp. 

 3ly-4. It would appear that, in South Carolina, from actual returns 

 of fourteen typ c:!l estates, the average yield was at the rate of 204 lbs 

 of lint per acre, that the cost of cultivation and all expenses whs at the 

 rate of ^35 • 40 per acre The returns for the lint and seed were $57 ' 86 

 leaving a net profit of $22 • 47 per acre. 



In the West Indies, if we assume that the return in the lint is at 

 the same rate, viz 204 lbs. per acre, and the total cost of placing it in 

 the Liverpool market 7d. per lb., for cotton fetching l2d. per lb., there 

 would remain a net profit at the rate of £5 2s per acre This would 

 allow for expenses of cultivation calculated at the rate of £^ per acre 

 |d. per lb. for picking l^d. for ginning and baling ;>nd the balance 

 for freight (t)5s. per ton weight), manure, commission, brokerage, etc. 



NOTES ON COTTON IN JAMAICA. 



Mr. J. Shore, Little River, writes : — 



" Cotton seems to grow like a weed, and gives a larger return than 

 generally stated. One acre, planted end September, 1903 ; supplied 

 twice, 80 per cent, grew ; cost to end March £5 6s. for everything. 

 1,200 lbs. seed cotton picked, picking still going on, with probable re- 

 turn of as much more. Bushes in full blossom again. Egyptian va- 

 riety. Planted near sea, distant about 25 chains, and 100 feet eleva- 

 tion ; in exposed situation and bushes much blown about by the fre- 

 quent high winds and 'northers.'" 



Mr. J. D. Orimsby, Lime Hall, writes : — 



*' I think I can afford some information in re cotton planting, which, 

 may be of se vIlc to intending growers. I was very unfortunate with 

 the Egyptian seed you sent rue some time ago, not mote than one per 

 cent, germinated, and on searching the holes in which I had planted 

 them I found only the husks ; insects had eaten all the kernels. In- 

 sects are the pests of my life, my place abounds in th^m. I have to 

 soak all my seeds in a solution oi Jeyes fluid before I plant them, so I 

 thought 1 would try that with the cotton too I began planting them 

 on Monday 4th inst., and continued until Friday 8th. On Sunday eve 

 I put 2 lbs. of t!.e cotton seed in two quarts of the solution— :i pint of 

 Jeyes to 4 gallons of water— and on Monday I began to plant. On 

 Friday, 8th, those planted on 4th had germinated, and to-day they are 

 about l^ inches high, with four open leaves, and I do not think I sha,ll 

 lose 5 per cent, of the seeds. I planted two seeds in each hole, and in 

 almost every case two plants are up I planted over two acres ,with 

 the seed you sent me, 2ft. 6in to '6 ft. apait. I am sorry now that I 



