The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-04 00:00:00

In addition to the prizes enumerated in a pre-
vious report of the Shropshire Rifle Meeting at
Hawkestone, a purse of £l5 for the greatest num-
ber of points at 500 yards mas won by Mr. Walter
Martin, of No. 10 company.

COTTON CULTIVATION IN JAMAICA:

The Jamaica Cotton Company have received by
the last mail numerous letters from proprietors,
managers, magistrates, clergymen, ministers, and
others, expressive of their entire approval of the
effort to grow cotton in Jamaica, and their confi-
dence as to its success.
Mr. Codrington, sen., states that the last week
100 people were employed on the company's plan-
tation, that 35 acres of land have been cleared, that
25 acres had been planted, and that the cotton was
growing well. The continued rains had somewhat
impeded their operations, but had brought the seed
up more quickly. That any quantity of land might
be planted, as 200 or 300 people were willing to
turn out, the men at ls., and the women at 9d. per
day. The small settlers were planting in all
directions, and asking for aid to extend the cultiva-
tion. So much had been planted that they required
cotton seed to be sent out from England.
A magistrate and coroner, writing from Metcalfe,
states that he is willing to put 100 acres of land in
cotton—that he can at all times obtain sufficient
labourers to carry on the cultivation—he would be
glad to be assisted by the company with some capital,
but in the meantime would continue planting, and
many of his neighbours would do the same.
A minister, writing from Savannah-la-Mar, says
I believe it to be just what we want to give
employment to a class of persons here who have
little or nothing to do. I have spoken to my people
on the subject, and many seem willing to take it up,
and grow to the extent of their ability." He re-
commends the company to purchase the cotton in
the seed and clean it themselves.

A planter, who was the manager of the 10 acres
of cotton of Mr. Gourges in Liguanea, which pro-
duced about 10,000 lbs. of cotton in one year, and
realised a profit of 95 per cent. on the capital em-
ployed, and who has also had great experience in
the growth of cotton in South America, offers his
best services to the company.
Another magistrate, writing from the north-east
end of the island on the 24th last month, states—
" I am confident from the quick growth of the trees
in this neighbourhood that both climate and soil
are congenial, and with culture will produce a large
quantity of very superior fibre. There are lots of
thrown.up properties in this parish. I have myself
up wards of 3,000 acres of land well suited for the
purpose. The cost of preparing land for cotton (he
adds), per acre, would be from 16s. to 205., planting
about 75., weeding twice before the cotton is fit to
pick Bs. each time. The month of August would
be an excellent time to plant."
Mr. Frederick Vinen, an English gentleman, who
has been in Jamaica for the last four years, writes
from Mayhill, dated June 6, 1861—" I hear the
people are willing to plant, but they want to be made
sure that they will be able to sell their cotton ou
the spot. In the neighbourhood of this place and
Manchester there used to be much cotton grown,
and everything I see about the parish induces me to
think that no part of the country is more suitable
for that purpose. There are cotton trees now bear-
ing that were planted 40 years ago. The gentleman
whose father planted them has a most valuable pro-
perty of about 800 or 900 acres, with a large store
and ilwelling-house (about 1,500 feet above the
level of the sea), and one of the most healthy piaci s
I know of. The land is partly in canes—he is
disposed to let or sell it."
A Jamaica planter now in London, of 11 years'
standing, thus writes on the subject of insufficiency
of labour :—" It has been and still is by many as-
serted that there is a deficiency of labour in
Jamaica, but I am enabled from experience of 11
years to contradict this assertion, and to prove that
there is abundance of available labour to be had.
I have never found a deficiency insany instance—
indeed, I may say that I could always procure more
than I required. I know that it is a frequent com-
plaint amongst planters that they cannot get labour
where they want it, but in nine cases out of ten
the reason of this is that they do not understand
rightly how to manage the labourers. I have ever
found, when a fair amount of wages has been filth-
fully and punctually paid for the work performed,
and strict honour observed between the planters
and the labourers, that any quantity of labour could
be had. And it is only by strictly adhering to this
system that any enterprise can succeed in Jamaica.
I have been ask, d whether it is more advantageous
to have work performed by contract or by the day.
I answer by contract when it is practicable, and
my experience enables me to speak confidently on
this point; it is far better for the employer and
employed, and is in nearly all cases preferred by
the labourer. It is only by interested persons, or by
those who do not at all understand the matter, that
the absurd cry of insufficiency of labour is kept up."