COTTON 



throughout remote districts it is not possible to give an 

 exact figure for the total area under cultivation. At an 

 approximate estimate the average total area cultivated 

 amounts to between 8,000 and 10,000 acres each year. 

 The area fluctuates to some extent from year to year 

 with variations in the market price of the staple, while 

 it will also depend in any one year to some extent on the 

 weather conditions which have prevailed during the 

 preceding season; the crop is especially susceptible to 

 influence by unsuitable weather conditions, and unfavour- 

 able seasons invariably result in decreased yields, the 

 effect of which is seen in a decrease in the area planted 

 in the year immediately following. 



The industry appears to have established itself at the 

 present level, and it does not seem likely that any very 

 great increase beyond the area stated above is in imme- 

 diate prospect. 



Crops and Yields. 



The following tabular statement shows the exports of 

 cotton in pounds of lint from each island and from the 

 whole Colony for each year since the inception of the 

 industry : 



EXPORTS OF SEA ISLAND COTTON (LINT) FROM THE LEEWARD 

 ISLANDS COLONY. 



Antigua, y 



Year including St. Kilts Nevis Anguilla Montserrat jgj^jj. Total 



ai ib? a Ih. lh. Ib. Ib. Ib. Ib. 



1902-03 ... 22,88o 27,6OO 50,480 



1903-04 ... 27,85} 24,197 28,449 1,661 70,000 152,160 



1904-05 ... 54,289 78,219 144,721 31,452 70,723 4,ioo 383,477 



1905-06 ... 99,948 120,379 120,168 80,650 98,262 6,975 526,382 



1906-07 ...189,318 180,917 96,402 61,666 164,430 10,177 702,910 



1907-08 ... 182,180 233,006 211,431 107,989 360,000 32,520 1,127,126 



1908-09 ... 45,310 207,146 104,160 49,320 238,959 52,528 697,423 



1909-10 ... 59,960 231,441 129,063 43,400 202,542 23,139 690,154 



1910-11 ... 96,992 329,322 343,395 148,595 402,666 50,337 1,371,307 



1911-12 ... 80,910 332,16$ 165,329 97,142 346,568 51,677 1,073,794 



1912-13 ... 172,023 374,594 166,477 112,138 292,182 31,775 1,149,189 



A study of these results will show the rapid manner 

 in which the industry has developed, and also the fact that 

 there appears reason to believe that within the past few 

 years it has settled down to a fairly steady level of pro- 

 duction. If an average value of is. 6d. per Ib. for lint is 



