The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-11

Experiments and Progress Made 1
Growing Cotton I'm Germany's Afri-
can Provinces.

Experiments and Progress Made I'm
Growing Cotton I'm Germany's Afri-
can Provinces.
The German "Kolonial- Wirtschaft-
l.tches Komitee'' (Colonial-Economic
Comneission) has lately published its
semi-annual report, In which are out
lined the measures adopted by the
Komitee for promoting cotton culti-
Walton in the German colonies during
the next three years, 1907 1903. Prac-
tically no colonial cotton was grown for
export prior TO 1901. In that year
Togo exported a quantity 8 small as
not to be reported in the official ex-
port returns, and German East Africa
shipped $40 pounds of raw cotton val
ued at So. In both these colonies
there has been a steady growth OF
cotton exports until 1905. when the
quantity exported from Togo amounted
TO 295 ,243 pounds and that from Ger
man East Africa 10 about $4,000
pounds.
The attempts 10 grow cotton in ka-
merun and German Southwest Africa
| are still on an experimental scale and
| there is no official record Of cotton ex-
ported from either colony. Cotton
growing in Togo is chiefly confined to
! cultivation by natives, while in East
Africa the plantation system prevails;
that is, cotton is grown by native labor
on plantations under the control ana
supervision of Europeans.
In Togo a board of cotton inspectors
has been appointed to assume the caief
| control of all measures adopted by
the Kouitee for the promotion OF
cotton culture. Under its supervision
q cotton school has beer established
at Nuatseha, where at present about
one hundred native students are IN
structed in modern methods or grow
ing and harvesting cotton. There the
modern pillow drawn by cattle X
the place of the hoe. On his return
from the school to his homestead. the
native is provided with plows. as well
as cattle and the necessary harness.
and il is hoped that he will practice
at home what he has learned at scnool
and thus become a nucleus for cotton
growing by modern methods IN mis- us
trict. The principal Of the school AT
Nuatscha is an American negro, John
W. Robinson, a graduate OF the lus-
kegee Normal and Industrial institute.
At Towe there has been established
a cotton experiment station. It's cnleI
object is to test the various KINDS OF
cotton crown in the colony, and 10 Sc
lect and distribute e of the most
promising varieties in such manner as
tn secure the best quality as Wel as
I'm iformity for each district. Glnnlng
stations have been established II 4
number OF central points under the
su,neryision of the Komitee; but they
are passing into private owners"p.
Facilities for marketing h crop are
provided and there is no lack OF loSo
firms willing TO accept all the COTTON
raised in the colony. The Dome-Pailnle
railway has just been completed anu
will afford a ready means TO snip Inc
native output along its line to the COAST
for transportation to Europe.
A board of cotton inspectors similar
+o that in Togo has the general super
vision of the cotton growing lntel'
nrises The cultural experiments for
marlv scattered all along h coast are
now concentrated at certain Favorable
localities. The chief centers are a
rresent in the north, the plantations
a. Saadani. Pangan5" and Nern;
: at ann ON the NlctOrls
Nyanza; in the south, at Mo1"ilo
, Kilwa. Lindi, and other places. A COT.
TON school has been established q
Rufdji, it's scope and aim being similar
to that of the Nuatscha scnool Il
Togo. Steam ginneries exist IN SUI
l fcient numbers and new ones ar
D erected az rapidly as required. Loca
firms purchase the crop and send ]
6 to Europe. o.;h,,
. Rv q careful selection and distrinu
ton of seed the quality OF East All.
= can cotton has been materially IN
I nroyed. A large cotton shipment ron
T,indi arrived at Hamburg March IL
1906. and realized 20 IA cents pc
Il nonnd for first quality, and 10 20 cen.
: ner mound for second. Egyptian COT
: TON growers have been induced % SET
:, tie in the colony. r.o
a For the future, work on similar line
on a greatly extended scale IS pro
Il iected. one of the chief objects PEN
e the extension Of railways o In
il coast into the interior 10 insure tlahh
p~ortation at reasonable cost Inc CD
pacity and scope of the schools ana eA
> periment stations is TO be enlarge
. new stations founded. and many oCue
improvements made. GoVerhIhe'
{ Cron Renorter for December.