Vol. VIII No. 178. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



5!) 



maggot. For instance, the flower-biul maggot apjiears to 

 begin its attack witli the advent of cold nights or nights with 

 heavy dew, or during any period when the chill winds are 

 from an unusual quarter, and the severity of the attack seems 

 to vary with changes in the weather within a very short time. 



During my stay at Antigua I visitcil cotton fields in the 

 north of the island, at High Windward, and in the Valley 

 district. 



With the exception of Cade's Bay and Orange Valley 

 ■ estates the cotton in all fields presented the same general 

 features, but in the fields of the two estates just mentioned 

 there was an abundance of flowers and young bolls, and 

 almost a total absence of the flower-bud maggot. At Cade's 

 Bay I found maggots in one bud and saw a few that I judged 

 to be attacked, but when I reached Orange ^'alley I could 

 •not find the maggot though I found many bnds that I shoidd 

 have said were infested. Mr. Pate.son told me that that had 

 Ijeen his experience for the entire season. He had frequently 

 iound buds which appeared to be infested, but he had not 

 found the magg<jt. 



After coming to the conclusion that the flower-bud 

 maggot of cotton infests the flowers and buds of Privet, 

 I was constantly observing the wild plant growth, trying to 

 :get as good an idea as possible of the distribution of this 

 plant. In most parts of the island, I should say that Privet 

 ■is more widely distributed and more abundant than almost 

 any other woody plant, either tree or shrub, e.xcept that in 

 the Valley district from .lolly Hill to Cade's Bay it seems to 

 be much less abundant. This may be connected with the 

 -comparative freedom of flower-bud maggot at Cade's Bay and 

 •Orange Valley. 



In the matter of remedial measures, and measures of 

 prevention, I am of opinion that it is essential to remove all 

 wild cotton from the vicinity of cotton fields at the time of 

 planting, and that at the beginning of an attack of flower- 

 bud maggot, much may be accomplished by hand-picking 

 the infested buds, which are indicated by the 'flai-ed' bracts. 

 When the attack becomes general this may not be profitable 

 :and it may be foiuid best to discontinue hand-picking of 

 infe.sted buds. The planter should, however, be able to judge 

 ^s to this. 



If it is proved later that the infestation can be conveyed 

 ■directly from the Privet to the cotton it will jjrobably pay to 

 cut and burn all Privet near the fields to be planted. 



The experiments now in progress at Antigua may give 

 ■results that will suggest other lines of action against the 

 attacks of the flower-bud maggot, but the foregoing recom- 

 nuendations are all that can be made just at present. 



AGRICULTURE IN SOUTHERN NIGBKTA. 



Southern Nigeria is one of the chief among the 

 West African colonies which must, in the future, be 

 notable as the source of a large nunilier of tropical 

 agricultural products. Its possibilities have undergone 

 very considerable development of recent 3'ears, more 

 ■especially since 1905. The total value of the exports, 

 practically all of which were agricultural products, 

 ■amounted in 1906 to £2,9.51,000, and in the course 

 of thp following vear advanced to no less than 

 £SMH.OOO. 



Palm oil and kernels form the most valuable among the 

 products of the colony, and the phenomenal increase in the 

 -value of the exports during 1906-7 is chiefly attributed to 

 "the exceptionally good crop yielded by the oil palm in that 



j'ear. Southern Nigeria undoubtedly possesse.s enormou;? 

 resources, but the development of these resources is at; 

 present in a very elementary stage. Two factors mentioned 

 in the latest Annual Report on the colony, which are essential 

 to primary advancement, are improved means of comniunica- 

 tiou, and the material development of agriculture. 



In addition to palm oil and kernels, the other valuable 

 articles of export are rubber, cotton, timber, cacao, and maize. 

 Palm oil was .shipped in 1907 to the extent of over 

 18,000,000 gallons, valued at £1,313,960, while, in addition, 

 133,630 tons of palm kernels of the value of £1,658,292 

 were also exported. These figures are the highest on record 

 for any year in connexion with the palm oil industry of 

 Southern Nigeria. Valuable as the palm oil industry is at 

 the present time, it is mentioned that with improved method.s 

 of transjiort, it would rapidly undergo very great develop- 

 ment, more especially in the Central and Eastern Provinces. 



Rubber also forms an important item in the colony's 

 exports. In 1907 this product was exported to the value of 

 £2-1-1,989. These figures show a decline on those of the 

 previous year, but this is due to the fact that unskilful 

 tapping has been prohibited in some of the principal rul>ber 

 districts. The Forestry l)eiiartment of the colony is 

 endeavouring to encourage the natives to plant rubber trees, 

 and also giving instructicni as to the best means of tapping and 

 preparing rubber. There are large tracts of land, eminently 

 suited to this product, and plantations of both Para and 

 Funtumia trees, started in recent years, are said to be doing 

 well. All the rubber at present exported is forest produce. 



It is satisfactory to note that the efforts of the British 

 Cotton-growing Association, aided materially liy the Govern- 

 ment, are having excellent results in Southern Nigeria. This 

 work was started in 190.'!, when the cotton exports were 

 worth only £375 per aniuun. In 1906, the shipments of 

 lint and seed were valued at £51,906, and in 1907 had 

 advanced to £107,891. Cotton is produced at a very low 

 cost in the colony, and a price of only 3hd. per lb. at Liver- 

 pool allows a profit to the grower. Points which will have 

 to be considered in relation to the development of the cotton 

 industry are : careful seed selection work, with proper atten- 

 tion to the improvement of indigenous varieties ; suitable 

 rotation of crop.s, involving the cultivation of a .second 

 product which will improve the soil, and also yield some 

 return that can be exported — ground nuts for example — and 

 the more extended introduction of ploughs and other labour- 

 saving implements. 



A good deal of timber — chiefly West African mahogany — 

 is obtained from Southern Nigeria, the exports in 1907 being 

 valued at £69,241. It is evident, too, that the colony is one 

 which, like the Gold Coast, posse.sses great possibilities in 

 the way of cacao production. Excellent land well suited to 

 this cultivation exists over extensive areas, and it is 

 mentioned that the industry is in a most flourishing condition. 



At present faulty fermentation and lack of pioper atten- 

 tion to pruning are .said to diminish the value of Southern 

 Nigeria cacao from 10 to 15 per cent, on the European 

 market. The exports in 1907 were valued at £47,840 as 

 compared with £27,054 in 1906. 



Maize is another agricultur.d crop which is largely 

 grown in the protectorate, more especially in the \Vestern 

 Province. The annual exports are worth about £30,000. 



Three Botanic Stations exist in Southern Nigeria, one 

 in each province. Large numbers of plants and seeds :ire 

 distributed to holders of land in all parts of the colony. 

 Instruction as to the best methods of cultivation are also 

 given. 



