COTTON 325 



In certain districts in which the soils are inclined to 

 be heavy in texture losses not infrequently occur as the 

 result of insufficient drainage, as it is not always realized 

 that cotton is a crop liable to suffer from the slightest 

 excess of soil moisture, and requires greater attention 

 in relation to drainage than does sugar-cane. 



Conditions governing the Industry in the different 

 Islands. 



In the following section the conditions under which the 

 industry is conducted in the different Presidencies is 

 briefly considered; the actual exports of cotton in each 

 case are shown in the table on p. 318. 



Antigua. In this island the industry has experienced 

 more vicissitudes than anywhere else in the Colony. In 

 the earlier years progress was steady and the area under 

 cultivation rapidly increased until, in 1907, the total area 

 under the crop amounted to 2,500 acres; in this and 

 the following year, however, the ravages of the flower- 

 bud maggot pest made themselves severely felt, and 

 resulted in a very small yield of lint per acre being 

 obtained; in consequence the area cultivated became very 

 greatly reduced until, in 1909, the area planted with the 

 crop only amounted to 253 acres. Since that time much 

 more satisfactory results have been experienced', and the 

 industry has steadily recovered till, during the past 

 season, some 1,200 acres have been under cultivation with 

 the crop. 



Cotton is cultivated both on the light volcanic soils 

 of the southern and western area and in the limestone 

 district of the north and east, the former being, on the 

 whole, best suited to cotton growing. The heavy clay 

 soils of the central plain are not so well adapted to the 

 requirements of the crop, although a certain amount of 

 cotton is grown thereon. 



The staple is cultivated both as a main crop and as a 

 rotation crop with sugar. In this latter connection it is 

 of importance as affording a means of resting land from 

 cane, thereby lessening the effect of root disease (Maras- 

 mius sacchari), which is at the present time a source of 

 considerable loss in the sugar industry. 



