268 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOUENAL. [lL Oor., 1902. 
and maturing of fruit. The best type of soil for producing favourable results 
is a clay loam or medium heavy sandy loam. The soil should be deep, and the 
sub-soil not heavy and compact. The cotton plant has a well-developed tap- 
root extending, according to the vigour of the plant and the character of the 
soil, to adepth of 3 feet or more. ‘The lateral or feeding roots begin usually 
within 3 inches of the surface, and seldom extend beyond a depth of 9 inches. 
It is a question whether the practice of planting on ridges is as good as working 
up the land deeply and then sowing the seed on the level ground. The ridge 
system grew out of the practice of shallow working to a depth of a few inches, 
though the seed bed is deepened by throwing up the soil till a depth of 10 inches 
or more is obtained. A good seed bed is thus formed, it is true; but it will not 
resist drought as would a level culture accompanied by deep working. 
The object of cultivating the land during growth of crop is to prevent loss 
of moisture in the soil. This is accomplished by maintaining a surface layer 
1 or 2 inches thick in a‘thoroughly pulverised condition, At the same time and 
by the same means, weeds and grass are kept down. It is very important that 
the surface layer of loose soil should be constantly maintained. Especially after 
rain when the soil tends to settle and form a compatt surface, a stirring of the top 
layer should take place. With the production of crop, cultivation should cease, 
and the plant helped by reducing water supply by preventing surface eyapora- 
tion. It is precisely reversing the process desired in the early stages of growth, 
with the object of checking further development of foliage and directing the 
energies of the plant towards making use of the materials it has already accu- 
mulated for the production of fruit. 
As regards time of planting, &c., local conditions must be consulted before 
deciding these points, but the object should be as far possible to secure for the 
plant an early start and a long season, in order to successfully mature its fruit 
Ree the crop to be gathered in good condition.— Agricultural Magazine, 
eylon. 
COTTON-GROWING IN THE WEST INDIES. 
Cotton, at one time a staple product of the West Indies, has been almost 
entirely supplanted by the sugar-cane, and is now grown on a commercial scale 
only at Carriacou. The Imperial Department of Agriculture has recently been 
conducting experiments with a view of testing the possibility of re-establishing 
a cotton industry at St. Lucia and Montserrat. Samples of cotton grown in 
these islands were forwarded to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce in March 
last. The experts to whom they were submitted for examination report :— 
We should value them as undernoted, though it would be advisable to take 
the values as more or less nominal, there having been no actual business in these 
descriptions of cotton for some time past. Most of the qualities, however, 
would fairly readily find buyers. Cotton of white colour is preferred to yellow 
cotton, and commands a higher price— 
Sea Island 40 we TH. Hawkins Prolific a 43-d.-43d. 
King Improved ... 42d.-5d. Native Montserrat ... 53d.-6d. 
Upland .. s¢45 Seen 60? Native Cotton (St. Lucia) 44d.-4.2d. 
Peterkin ... Wa .. 4d. 
- We think with regard to the Sea Island that this might easily fetch 
considerably more money. 
COTTON-GROWING WITHIN THE EMPIRE. 
A meeting of representatives of the Lancashire cotton industry was held 
yesterday (says the Bolton Guardian of 13th June) at the Chamber of Com- 
merce rooms, Manchester, the meeting having been convened at the instance of 
the association which has for its objects the growth of cotton within the’ 
