, 1908-07-01

Doon OBTAINED by one planter DIS the result OF
skilful methods of seed selection. This I am
glad to mention is not a solitary instance.
Another enterprising cultivator with nearly
500 acres under cultivation has engaged the
services of a specially trained man to look
after his cotton fields and carefully watch
the growth Of the plants, and raise special
varieties to suit local conditions. On the
other hand, l am sorry to say that there are
a number OF people at present growing cot
ton who, in their own interest as well as in
the general interest of the island, ought not
to do so, as they are evidently not prepared
to devote the necessary time and attention
to the crop, since they allow their fields to
be infested with pests and prove a source of
infection to neighbouring areas. One of the
most effective means of preventing the
spread OF pests, and especially scale insects.
is to uproot all old cotton before the new
crop is planted. 1t would appear that this
practice of keeping old cotton in fields
adjoining young cotton is more prevalent at
Barbados than in any other part of the West
Indies. 1t would be a source of great salts
faction to all concerned if it were possible
during the coming season to start the new
crop without the possibility of it being
infected with diseases from old cotton fields.
AS regards seed selection, wherever a
planter comes across one or more plants in O
field exhibiting qualities of q desirable char
acter, such as produciveness beyond the
average, or immunity from disease where near
ly all the other plants in the neighbourhood
are poor or are badly attached with disease,
the seed from such pants should be careful
ly gathered by the planter himself, sown in
q nursery and watched, in order to deter
mine whether the special characteristics
noticed previously are continued in the
second generation. By repeating expert
ments of this nature over and over again. a
local variety might be established in process
OF time likely to prove of great value.
The question has been asked as to whether
there is a danger of over production in the
supply of Sea Island cotton, and this question
is one that deserves careful consideration
The present depression in prices and the
difficulty in readily disposing of Sea Island
cotton are due, not to over production, but
to the widespread depression in trade caused
by the severe financial crisis through which
the United States have rece ,tly passed.
which has since extended to nearly every
part of the world. Two years ego we were
informed that in the West Indies we could
produce up to 10000 or 3d. OO bales Of Sea
Island cotton without seriously affecting the
market. SO far, we have not produced. at
the outside, more than 10000 bales. and if
trade had been moderately good, there is no
doubt that prices this year would have
reached, on an average, Is. 3d.. per ID. or
possibly more.
AS YOU are aware, there is to be an i'm
portant Conference held at Manchester in
August next, at which there will be present
representative cotton growers from the
West Indies as well as leading spinnets of
fine cotton in Lancashire. This Conference
should afford all excellent Opportunity for
all exchange of views between growers and
spinners, and it may be possible to obtain
OH authoritative opinion in regard to the
future demand for Sea Island cotton from
the West Indies. We were assured only a
little more than twelve months 400
by a prominent Lancashire cotton spinner.
who expends annually two millions sterling
III the purchase of Sea Island cotton. that #
we grew q good strong cotton of uniform
length, such a demand would arise as would
admit of a large extension of cotton c~ultiya-
ton in the West Indies without risk Of the
supply on al average of years exceeding
the demand. Until we are more fully in.
formed, we are justified in regarding the
present depression as of a temporary charac-
ter, and we should not be too readily dis
couraged. 1t is reasonable that we should
wait until we have Ill the facts before no