280 



' COTTON IN JAMAICA. 



It may be of interest when there is a good prospect of a revival 

 of the cotton industry in Jamaica, to note what the historian, Long, 

 said on the subject 130 years ago. The following paragraphs are 

 taken from the History of Jamaica, published in 3 volumes, 

 London, 1774 : — 



This shrub was probably brought into the island by its ancient 

 inhabitants from the South American continent. It is propagated 

 by the seed, which is sown, about five feet asunder, at the latter 

 end of September, or beginning of October, and at first but slightly 

 covered. After it springs up, and becomes a plant, the root is well 

 moulded. The seed is subject to decay, when it is set too deep, 

 especially in wet weather. The soil most proper for it, should not 

 be stiff, nor shallow, as this plant has a tap-root. The ground is 

 hoed frequently, and kept very clean about the young plants until 

 they rise to moderate height ; otherwise they are apt to be 

 destroyed by caterpillars. It grows from four to six feet, and 

 produces two crops annually ; the first in eight months, from the 

 time of sowing the seed ; the second, within four months after the 

 first ; and the produce of each tree is reckoned about one pound 

 weight. The southside planters generally cultivate it in May and 

 gather in the January following; but unless they have rain be- 

 tween January and April, which more often fails than happens, 

 they rarely make much of the second crop ; for which reason Sep- 

 tember seems to be a fitter season for planting the seed, as it will 

 have certain rains in October, to establish its vegetation ; and, 

 being gathered about May, the flowers, which may probably fall 

 in the succeeding weeks, promise to ensure a tolerable second crop. 

 The seed is set in regular lines at the distance before mentioned, 

 so as to let the branches spread freely, which however are some- 

 times pruned, if the soil be too rich, and their growth over-luxu- 

 riant ; and they are likewise pruned or trimmed constantly after 

 the first gathering. When the pods are come to maturity, they 

 burst open, and disclose their seeds, intermixed with the flock or 

 wool. When great part of the pods are thus expanded, the crop 

 begins, the wool is picked, and afterwards cleared from the seeds 

 by a convenient machine, of very simple contrivance, called a gin, 

 composed of two or three smooth, wooden rollers, of about one inch 

 diameter, ranged horizontally, close and parallel to each other, in 

 a frame ; at each extremity they are toothed, or channeled longi- 

 tudinally, corresponding one with the other ; and the central roller, 

 being moved with a treadle or foot-lath, resembling that of a knife- 

 grinder makes the other two revolve in contrary directions. The 

 cotton wool is laid, in small quantities, at a time, upon these rollers, 

 whilst they are in motion, and readily passing between them drops 

 into a sack placed underneath to receive it, leaving the seeds (which 

 are too large to pass with it) behind. The wool thus discharged 

 from the seeds, comes afterwards to be hand-picked, and cleansed 

 thoroughly from any little particles of the pods or other substances 



