. Agricultural news. Agriculture -- West Indies; Plant diseases -- West Indies. 150 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. May 20, Sea Island Cotton Industry. A correspondent writes:— What is the object of our present ctl'orts in regard to cotton growingin the West Indies^ As well by a Consiil-General of the United States, it is ' to produce a high quality o( fibre for a special class of tlie British textile trade.' If we are proposing to grow cotton irrespective of ijuality, that is cotton of the ordinary Upland sorts, fetching 4(/. to M. per it)., then it is not worth our while to take fur
. Agricultural news. Agriculture -- West Indies; Plant diseases -- West Indies. 150 THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. May 20, Sea Island Cotton Industry. A correspondent writes:— What is the object of our present ctl'orts in regard to cotton growingin the West Indies^ As well by a Consiil-General of the United States, it is ' to produce a high quality o( fibre for a special class of tlie British textile trade.' If we are proposing to grow cotton irrespective of ijuality, that is cotton of the ordinary Upland sorts, fetching 4(/. to M. per it)., then it is not worth our while to take further trouble in the matter. Other countries are in a position to grow such cotton cheaper than we can, and it would pay us better to turn our attention to other crops. If however, we realize that our aim is to grow the best of Sea Island cotton, fetching 15'/. to 17*/. per lb. (which these colonies have conclusively shown they can produce), then the prospects of the industry are as good as any in the West Indies. We have special advantages in our soil and maritime climate and can produce Sea Island cotton that is better than anything grown elsewhei-e. What is necessary is :— (1) To obtain the best seed: this should be selected and disinfected beforehand, and planted in June, July, or August, according to the Any one who plants seed of inferior quality stands to lose 4(/. to 6(/. on every pound of cotton he jjroduces. (2) To select good land and have it well cultivated and manured; good cotton in large quantity cannot be grown on poor unmanured .soils: pen manure in moderate quantity in addition to the artificial manures suggested on pp. 57-8 of ' of Cotton Planting' have given excellent results: the cost would be at the rate of about ?8 per acre. (.3) To keep a keen look-out for the cotton worm and other pests: the moment these appear every cotton planter should be ready to apjoly the necessary remedies; they are simple and effective; weeders and other
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