Vol. III. No. 6.5. 



THE AGEICULTURAL NEWS. 



329 



Cotton and other Crops in Sierra Leone. 



The recently issued Colonkd Report on Sierra 

 Leone devotes considerable attention to the subject 

 of cotton growing. An indigenous variety grows 

 freely without any attempt at cultivation, the product 

 being spun into e.xcellent cloths. Every encourage- 

 ment is being given by the Government to those 

 who are interesting themselves in the growing of 

 cotton. At first experiments were made to introduce 

 exotic varieties, but it is apparently considered that 

 native varieties, if improved by selection, \vill prove more 

 successful on account of the difficulties of acclimatization. 

 Experimental farms have been started by experts from 

 the Southern States of America. There is a large 

 area, within easy reach of rail and water, in which 

 cotton might with advantage bo cultivated. 



The principal staples of the colony are palm oil 

 and palm kernels, kola nuts, and rubber. 



The exports of rubber have declined very consid- 

 erably during the past eight years. The Government 

 is encouraging the efforts at present being made by 

 individuals to produce rubber, especially by experi- 

 mental plantations. Sierra Leone rubber (from 

 La'iiildlpJiia incariensis) realized, in October 1903, 

 ,3.s. 8(/. per lb., which is l-s. more than at the corres- 

 ponding period of the previous year. 



Indian Bees'-wax. 



A recent issue of the Ag !■ (Cultural Led (jfr (IdOi, 

 no. 7) is devoted to 'an account of the sources, 

 preparation, trade, and composition of the bees'-wax of 

 British India.' 



Indian bees'-wax is derived from three species of 



the genus .4p/'-s, the waxes prepared from the three 



.species being practically identical in composition. The 



wax is seldom adulterated for fraudulent purposes. Its 



preparation is a very simple operation, as it is usually 



'.collected by almost wild tribes from trees and rocks. 



'The honey is squeezed by the hand from the wax, 



which is then washed in cold water before being heated 



in water over an open fire. The melting wax rises to 



the surface and the imparities sink to the bottom of 



the vessel. If necessary the wax is strained through 



.a piece of coarse cloth. In some districts peculiar 



methods aie adopted for purifying and clarifying the 



wax, cow-dung, tamarind leaves, and salt being among 



the agents employed. 



The annual exports of bees'-wax from the whole of 

 India during the last few years have amounted to 

 4,000 to .5,000 cwt. The trade has remained almost 

 stationary for the past twentj' 3'ears, but is undoubtedly 

 •capable of great expansion. 



In concluding his paper the writer refers to the 

 successful results that have followed the attention given 

 to apiculture in the West Indies. ' During the ten 

 years 1888-98 the value of bees'-wax exported has 

 increased from £4,82o to £10,389. Some share of this 

 increase is no doubt due to the intelligent action of 

 the Jamaica Agricultural Society. . . Another feature 

 of success is the high-class quality of the wax sent to 

 the London market and the consequently good prices 

 realized.' 



Agriculture in the Hawaiian Islands. 



The Consular Report on the Trade of Hawaii 

 states that the export of raw sugar during the year 

 ended June 30, 1903, amounted to 387,412 tons, valued 

 at £.5,220,187, all of which went to the United States. 

 In comparison with this the other items of export 

 (consisting of coffee, fresh fruits, hides and skins, honey, 

 rice, etc.) were insignificant. The production of sugar 

 has steadily increased during the last three years. 

 For some time past the price of sugar has been low, 

 but the recent imjDrovement in prices has been a source 

 of satisfaction to growers and merchants. The new 

 jjest, known as the ' leaf hopper,' has proved very 

 destructive. 



In consequence of the recommendation of a pro- 

 tective duty, to enable coffee planters to compete with 

 Brazilian imports into the United States, the larger 

 coffee plantations have continued cultivation. But 

 smaller growers have been discouraged by the poor 

 prices. There was a considerable increase in the 

 output. 



The cultivation of sisal hemp has received an 

 impetus owing to the satisfactory prices obtainable at 

 San Francisco, Hitherto, the difficulty has been to 

 obtain a market for this product. 



The exports of honey were valued at £3,121, and 

 those of fresh fruit at £13,(390. 



The Development of West Africa. 



A series of interesting articles on the above 

 subject has recently been published in the Syren amd 

 tili'rpping. Reference is made to the need of encourag- 

 ing agricultural industries and more especially that of 

 cotton growing. Of the British Cotton-growing 

 As.sociation it is stated : ' So far the work of the Associa- 

 tion has progressed, the most ample and conclusive 

 evidence has been forthcoming that, in the development 

 of West Africa, cotton growing is destined to rank as 

 the foremost industry.' The Association is encouraged, 

 from the samples already received, to believe that the 

 most suitable cotton for Lancashire may ultimately be 

 obtained from native seed or from a cross between 

 native and American. 



In Lagos an Agricultural Society has been formed, 

 which already has 400 members. The British Cotton- 

 growing Association is to conduct a model farm for 

 the purpose of demonstrating to the natives ap23roved 

 methods of cultivation. 



In Sierra Leone, too, encouragement is being 

 given to the natives to take up the cultivation of 

 cotton. An expert who recently visited the colony has 

 advised a large scale of operations, and this is being 

 established. 



With regard to Liberia, it is stated that it seems 

 destined to rival, if not to surpa.ss, the Congo Free State 

 in the extent and value of its rubber resources. There 

 is every prospect, also, of great progress in the cacao 

 industry. Cotton growing is also receiving attention. 



In Southern Nigeria 'the cultivation of cotton 

 gives the greatest promise of any of the local industries.' 

 The forest resources of the colony are also being 

 exploited. 



