33 COTTON 



into cultivation which for many years previously have 

 been in bush, and regular employment has been found 

 for a considerable section of the labouring community. 



The Virgin Islands. This Presidency consists of a very 

 numerous group of small islands lying about 200 miles 

 north-west of Antigua; the largest members of the group 

 are Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, and Jost van 

 Dyck's; the total area of the Presidency is about 30 square 

 miles. There are no properties worked on estate lines 

 and the land is very largely in the hands of the peasants. 



Formerly the conditions of the islands w r ere of extreme 

 poverty, but the reintroduction of cotton cultivation has 

 served materially to improve the condition of affairs. 



The crop is entirely produced by peasant cultivators 

 on small holdings, which are often situated in remote and 

 isolated situations. 



The industry has been developed through the enter- 

 prise of the Government by means of the Agricultural 

 Department. Each year a supply of selected seed of good 

 strain is provided for planting purposes and supplied to 

 intending growers at low rates. 



A ginnery, containing two gins, a baling press, and an 

 oil engine, has been erected by the Government, and the 

 seed-cotton produced is there purchased from growers at 

 prices based on the current market values for lint, the 

 produce being subsequently exported and sold. 



Guidance and advice on the treatment of the crop are 

 afforded by frequent visits of the agricultural officers to 

 the holdings of peasant cultivators, while facilities are 

 also given for the control of pests and diseases. 



As in other places where peasant cotton growing is 

 carried on, the industry has been largely built up as the 

 result of efforts on the part of the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment, including the provision of a ready means of 

 marketing the staple once it has been produced. 



The effect is seen in the greatly ameliorated conditions 

 under which the inhabitants of these islands now exist 

 and the improved financial outlook of the Presidency. 



Conclusion. 



The foregoing pages present a fairly comprehensive 

 outline of the conditions under which Sea Island cotton 



