The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-02
GROWING COTTON IN AFRICA.
Abstract of Report Made by supt.
Galloway of the German Expe-
rinent Station.

Atlanta, Ca, March 2s.-The Ger
man Colonial Economic society of Ber-
lin has issued an elaborate report Of
the work of the experimental cotton
plantation in Togo, West Africa, man
aged by J. n. Galloway and three
young negroes from Booker Washing
toms school at Fuskeege, Ala. The
following is an abstract from Superin-
tendent Calloway's statement to the
society, which is included IN the
report:
Our planting coverved six months
time, but can be divided into two
periods-from March to June and from
July to August. The rainy season
began in March, but was very light at
first. On March 81 we planted oul
first American cotton, about one and
half acres. This sprouted quickly and
grew nicely. After one month it was
foot and half high. April brought
frequent, light rains. It was good
month for planting. During this
month we planted twelve acres OF
American cotton. In May, twenty
acres were planted. The rain during
May was very heavy but did not injure
the growth of the plants. In the first
DAYS of July very damaging rains
came. The bolls of the early crop were
entirely destroyed. The plants rusted
and the bolls rotted without opening.
Only two bales of cotton were harvest
ed from seed planted before July, much
more perished in the field.
In the months of July and August
twenty acres were planted with Amer
lean and Egyptian cotton. September
and October had less rain, but clouds
and fog continued. By the end OF
October there was more sun and a
higher temperature. Seed planted In
July and August produced in Decem-
Der what would IN America be called
half crop. A small area was planted
in October, but with little success, as
rain ceased to fall soon after. In these
experiments we used native, American
upland and sea island) and Egyptian
seed. Next year Peru seed. will be
tried. The large part Of the seed sown
was American. I believe that by plant
ing the seed in late summer, and thus
avoiding the heavy rains, good results
can be obtained with American cotton.
It is probable too, that better results
can be obtained by using cotton seed
or artificial fertilizers. I am of the
opinion that by crossing native with
american cotton a variety adapted to
Che colony can be secured.
Zone hundred acres OF land IN all
were cultivated. Up TO the end OF
December % bales of cotton were in
readiness to ship. Thirteen Of these
we're from native seed, nine from
American seed and one from Egyptian
seed. The natives grow cotton as a
secondary product with yams. There
is sufficient good cotton land. The ex-
petition intends to distribue good cot
ton seed to the natives. In native cot
ion the proportion between lint and
seed was /, 800 pounds OF seed cotton
to bale Of 800 pounds The crop from
American seed showed the same pro-
portion as in America, i. e., 1900
pounds Of seed cotton to bale.
g The natives must be taught to cul-
tiyata more cotton on the same ground
with the same labor. If possible,
they must be furnished with draught
animals. Although it was known that
no animal could resist the climate, 20
horses and 20 oxen were brought
from the interior. The tsetse fly soon
began its fatal work, and by Septem-
her all the animals were dead. Expert
ments should be continued with ma
tive horses. After our animals died it
was necessary to depend on native labor
for everything, and natives drew the
bales of cotton to the coast in lumber
wagons. Portable engines should be
introduced to furnish power for gin
ming and baling, and railway should
be built from the coast inland. Our
experience has given US every reason
to believe that in few years it will
be possible to export many thousand
bales of cotton from the colony of
Togo. This will not have any effect
on the markets of the world, but 1T
viii be of advantage to Germany, and
especially to the two and half mil
lions of natives in the colony.
Under present conditions the cost
of 500 pound bale of cotton delivered
at Bremen, including ginning, press
ing and moving to the coast by native
labor, shipping expenses, sundries, in
surance. is 225 marks (about s63. 90. J
IF crossing native with American seeds
makes it possible to get bale from
], 800 pounds of seed cotton and the
Introduction of steam power for gin
ming, baling and hauling lowers the
cost to equivalent expenses in America,
it should be possible to produce bale
of cotton of the same quality to be
laid down in Bremen for 100 marks
{about s47.00)."