The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-03

win Sea Island cotton save the
West Iniiea2 This question Il. being
asked daily throughout the long
stretch ct islands extending EFem the
British virginia groupto British Guinea
On the mainland OF south America
SBacsSed by the influence OF the Brit
ish government. all the resources of
science and the wealth of the Eng
ash spinners and dealers. the plant
ers In the islands believe they can
answer the question in the affirma-
live.
Sea Island cotton was introduced
In the West Indies as an experiment
In the first years Of the present CEN
tury, but did not begin to attract
wide ttention until 1904. Then ship
ments totaling 65,625 pounds of high
grade cotton from St. kits and Nevis
nauged the American raisers TO take
notice. From that date the increase
Ia West India cotton has been the
talk OF the English manufacturers.
In 1905 the crop for a rev islands
was 2ss.77S pounds. a phenomenal
advance and In 1906 the crop was
326.45s pounds, more than q quar-
ter million pounds over what II was
two years before.
These figures made such an I'M
preston upon the minds of the Amer
lean planters that they are said to
have reached a decision not to let
the West Indies have any more OF
their seed. There Is the crux of the
situation, and the English planters
are waiting hopefully to learn whe-
Their they can continue on their pres
ent prosperous way. or whether In
the course OF time their transplanted
ENa fxr{ vii ad
viii be at the end OF their rope for
the lack OF fresh stock
Scientific propagation of all obtain
able varieties for producing seed has
been under way in Barbados for sew
eral years. and the planters OF ST.
Kits and other places are now buy
ing their seed there, paying fourteen
cents per pound But while the Bar
hados seed is giving excellent salts
faction. there Is the lingering suspi-
cion that some day that also will
weaken under the strain of inbreed-
ing or overdevelopment.
The imperial department Of agri-
culture Ia doing a splendid work. It's
specially Is botanical gardens, where
an fncessant effort Is made to accli-
Matte the native products of one
section OF the empire In another. II
is constantly growing new things in
strange places. and because of the
~taTad#ide extent of Hts feeders in
colonies In every corner Of the globe.
IL has exceptional opportunities for
experiments in transplanting The bo-
fanical garden at Dominica, In rich
ness and completeness, Is said to
stand second only to the famous one
In CeyIon.
Cotton was eagerly seized upon by
the department, and is being treated
along practical lines. Not only do
the government experts watch with
minute care the crops they are grow
ing in the official garden. but they
go into the plantations. When they
gee particularly hardy plant with
desirable individual characteristics.
they mark It. From this time the
plant is watched closely. and. IL at
the time of picking 1t seems better
and more hardy than its fellows, II
Is set apart and Its seed planted
over and over again to discover whe-
Their it was merely a sport or q
useful, permanent variation. BY such
methods Ii Is hoped TO develop special
varieties for every island. exactly
suited to the conditions under which
they first appeared.
The spread OF Sea Island cotton
was largely due TO the work of Mr..
r. Wade. of London, who began in
1904 with plantation in Mortserrat
that was $4,000 in debt To-day II
Ii said TO be free of all incumnrances
md TO be paying handsomely. Last
year one plantation of sixty acres In
ST. Kits cleared 5000. largely be
cause of cotton. Estates that tel
years ago could have been beugh
for "a song are now rated like corne
lots in d boom town. The boon
eventually will strike Its normal leyel
hut If the cotton does not deteriorat
the land Will still remain enormousl
valuable.
There are few plants 80 thorough
Nv dependent upon the location o
the ground I'm relation to the oceal
as Sea Island cotton, and the differ
ences In quality and quantity in area
SHARPLY bounded are astonishing. Fo
.-- - -