The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-30

Ilorin and Meko districts OF the colony,
and 1t may be taken q proved that cotton
growing cannot compete successfully with
the palm oil industry In the distriots where
the palm trees are plentiful and for per-
manent supply cotton buyers must depend
upon the non-palm tree country.
It Ii estimated that under the most favor
able conditions. e., the creation OF GEN.
trail buying stations. good transport facili-
ties and high prioes-the natives OF Lagos
colony may be able to produce 100000 bales
Of cotton annually. In addition to their
present forest and farm exports Of palm oil.
timber and cocoa; but owing to the lack OF
transport facilities, bad roads and the fail
ure to date Of experiments to improve
the quality Of cotton grown, it will DO many
years before an output Of 10000 bales OF
from the question OF cotton growing. La
Cos colony Is badly In need OF good roads
capable OF carrying wheeled traffic, and un-
til the roads and bridges are built the dis
tricts most suitable for cotton production
will remain to great extent untapped
by the Cotton Growing Association upon .
large scale, and last year 100 acres were
cleared and planted with American seed,
but the resulting crop was z failure; and
as the cotton. plants enemy. guinea grass.
Is very prevalent in the colony. 1t is doubt H,t
ropeans upon American lines will ever DO
successful. Other experiments with Ameri-
can cotton seed have also not been very
encouraging, and the question whether
American or native cotton be most en-
in favor Of the frst named before sufficient
information had been collected upon the
subject, and before 1t had proved itself
adaptable to West African conditions.
The best native cotton from the Meko
cotton as grown in Lagos. Whether it
would not be better to improve the native
variety with or without the help OF Amer-
can seed Ii q question which will eventually
have to be faced II cotton is to be grown.
The Cotton Growing Association has es-
at two stations on the Lagos government
nery Upon It's plantation. II the estimate
Of 10 ,OtO bales is to be realized, agencies
win have to he opened up In parts Of the
country away from ,.a the railway. where,
II cotton growing will prove q commercial
Tho colony Of Southern Nigeria, adjoin-
ing Lagos, and now. for administrative pur-
poses. attached to the latter, has 80 far
given very unsatisfactory returns for the
money spsns by the Cotton Growing Assoc
citation. a plantation upon the Soho plains
was mapped out last year and several hum
dred acres cleared and planted with Ameri-
can seed. About e., 900 10 said to have boon
spent upon the concern during the year and
at less than El0o, 10 very discouraging. Tho
failure was undoubtedly due princi pally to
climatic difficulties, poverty OF soil and the
inexperience Of those responsible for the
selection and working Of the, venture, The
experiments, are being carried out in other
districts with q view Of gaining more knowl-
edge Of the soil, seed and climate before
launching out on . large scale again.
It may be taken for granted that over
the greater portion Of Southern Nigeria the
should . suitable seed be discovered, as a
subsidiary farm product Although in the
districts bordering Northern Nigeria, where
the country is more suitable to It's growth,
cotton may be produced as a staple article,
q production OF 10000 talee will not be
ern Nigeria Is the only colony possessing
q river service giving good and ready
transport facilities. but, being rich in for
est products, timber. rubber and oil palms,
1t cannot be looked upon as being an agri-
cultural country.
Cotton will Undoubtedly grow we'll In
different parts Of the Gold Coast Colony,
but the transport difficulty, coupIed with
tho demand for labor at the mines, is again st
it's commercial development, and in the
Volta district whore agriculture has made
great strides during the past few years.
the cocoa tree has taken firm grasp Of
the natives attention, and. upon the whole,
tho cotton question IL not likely to be ia
vorably answered under the conditions
likely to rule the labor market In the Gold
Coast Colony for many years to come.
The railway running from Sekondi to
Kunassi was built to serve the gold mines,
and as the couptry around 1t is densely
wooded and does not contain large popu-
lation, II cannot do much to help the cotton
industry. u will not pay to clear the bush
near the railway; and, consequently, when
the transport systems and facilities for
cotton handling in West Africa are CON
given scant attention while it's terminus
rs at KumAssi
The colony Of Sierra Leone has, In COM
mon with that OF the Gambia. a very heavy
rainfall, and, although cotton Ia grown in
most parts OF these colonies, they do not
possess the population necessary for the
development Of cotton upon q large scale.
Ths lack o. population Il much aRalnst
the cultivation Of great quantities OF cot
ton, moro especially Is fully third Of the
people reside In tho Palm tree district and
IN cotton growing, The population may
two colonies.
The staple food raised all over Sierra
Leone Ia rice, and II 10 customary to grow
cotton and cassava mixed with tho rice, and
good results are apparently obtained In tbis
way. There are no great forests In the
cotton districts. and the low bush IL easily
cleared. The cotton associations planta-
l. H,n l.. -