3^9 



seed thus originated have found their way into general 

 cultivation. 



For its successful production the crop requires high culti- 

 vation, and in this respect the level maintained is, in practically 

 all cases, satisfactory. Hand labour is very largely employed. 



Experience has shown that each island tends to develop 

 a type of lint characteristic of itself as the result of local soil 

 and climatic conditions; this fact is of great importance in 

 relation to the origin of strains of seed to be planted each year. 



The principal insect pests to which the crop is subject are 

 the Cotton Worm (Alabama argillacea), Leaf Blister Mite 

 (Eriophies gossypii), Cotton Stainers (Dysdercus spp.), and 

 the Flower-bud Maggot (Contarinia gossypii), the last having 

 only proved a pest of serious importance in Antigua up to the 

 present. Among fungoid pests must be classed Anthracnose, 

 Angular leaf spot, and a bacterial boll rot. On the whole the 

 insect pests must be regarded as of more importance than 

 those of fungoid origin. In the majority of cases the various 

 diseases and the methods of control are well understood. 



Regarding the conditions under which the industry is con- 

 ducted in the different islands, in Antigua the crop is grown 

 both as a main crop and as a rotation crop with sugar; there 

 is also a certain amount of peasant-grown cotton. The 

 industry experienced a considerable check owing to the attacks 

 of the Flower-bud Maggot disease between the years 1907 and 

 1909, but has now recovered from this to a large extent. In 

 Barbuda the industry is carried on as an estates crop by the 

 Government, about 130 acres being cultivated each year; the 

 enterprise has resulted in placing the island in a solvent con- 

 dition; formerly it constituted a charge on the revenue of 

 Antigua. 



In St. Kitts the crop is grown very largely as an intermediate 

 between two crops of sugar cane, it is also grown to some 

 extent as a main crop; there is no peasant industry. St. Kitts 

 cotton has now attained a very favourable reputation among 

 spinners and the industry is very firmly established. 



In Nevis cotton is grown as a main crop on estates, and 

 there is also an important peasant industry. The crop has 

 very largely replaced sugar, and has exercised a very pro- 

 found effect on the prosperity of the island. 



In Anguilla the crop is almost entirely grown by peasants, 

 and its introduction has resulted in the restoration of a 

 moderate degree of prosperity to a community which formerly 

 existed in a condition of abject poverty. Mention must be 

 made of the efforts of Mr. C. Rey, who, as a local landowner 

 and the agent of the Local Government and the British Cotton 

 Growing Association, has assisted in bringing about the exist- 

 ing state of affairs. 



