, 1910-06-04

uluE ~ CChbDF3 MI DONCI ohlLl LLhE
this island was remarkably we'll off ia being
comparatively free from cotton pests. there
was some black ScaIe, but this was kept in
check by o parasite which pierced the scale
and laid an egg IN it the affected bough
shown hud many scales, N which the
small hole made by the parasite might be
seen.
There were also two kinds Of white scale.
but these were not BAD. Then there was a
little Of the bIister-mite, aphis, and red leaf
spot.
He would, however, give a word Of warn
ing. Cotton growing in the United States
IS threatened with ruin by that most de,
atructive pest the boH-2ceeUu. Should this
pest find its way into the West Indies the
cotton industry is done for. He would
therefore suggest that the growers should
try to get a law passed forbidding importa-
ton Of cotton seed from the United Statas
without examination and disinfection.
He would mention another point in con
nection with cotton growing LoAg ago a
Governor Of South Carolina visited the West
Indies aud on leaving took away many seeds
with him, among them the seeds of the
West Indian. cotton plant. These be sowei.
but a frost Killed out nearly all the plants.
From the few which survived, however, he
collected seed for another trial, which proved
successful. This was the origin of the Sea
Island cotton, which by continued selec-
ton has been brought to its present
fine condition Now he had noticed that
we have here in St. CrOiX som4 plants If wild
cotton, Indigenous cotton, and he notice
that they were free from disease. Might it
not be possible by cultivation aud selection
from these to,secure a strolgs G ton, resist
ant also to disease. There was likewise a
promising field for experiment ii crossing
this kind of cotton with the cultivated kinds.
The question would Of course arise how
all these things were to be done?
In the Committees Invitation it Ind been
shown what measures were being taken in
the Hawaiian Islands and i'm our near neigh
bour Porto Rico. 1t was necessary to have
an agricultural officer, and u station where
experiments could be tried Looking to
what had been done in the past he would
say that thousands Of seeding canes had
been raised, out of which u few valuable
varietie, had ut length been selected.
MIR. Bowel tn n described some definite
results obtajnad with certain seedlings
which he named, showing by statements
written out on sheets hung mp along the
side OF the hall how saI,f'tto oaa7 hat
been We in St Crojy, ha sud. u.ed not
wait to raise and test seedlings Of our canes.
There was no difficulty in importing the tops
from Barbados Tops hal been taken to
the far east over a three months voyage.
packed in lamp pow tered charcoal, AMI the
percentage of failures hui been fouud not
to exceed shat amou4 too7 cut from canes
on the spot H IN fo4al the use o. pow
dored charcoal a very sac :es5fll method Of
TRANSPORTING cane tops
In regard to the value Of Experiment
Stations he would call ottantiou to the quota
tions appended to the Com nittee's invitation,
and especially to the last paragraph, where
in reference to the value OF the work done
in the Hawaiian Islands, it VAS slil
an a single year a single pest cost Tho
sugar planters Of Hawaii taree mjIIlioa
dollars. The experiment station Of the
Hlwaiian Sugar Planters Associa ION. ex-
pending yearly bat seventv-iye thousand
dollars for all departments Of its widely
diversified work, succeeded in eradicating
that pest. Ii that is not sufficient excuse
for It's being, the world itself has no right
to turn round
Ga the conclusion of Mr.. BovelIs ad-
dress, the Chairman said that Mr.. Be-
veil had pointed ont to u4 thp fr1e