Vol. X. No. 23: 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



167 



The next part of the repoi-t has refeipiice to meetings 

 and conferences of the Council, and to the financial state of 

 the A.ssociation. It is succeeded by a uior'T detailed report 

 on the work of the Association in the colonics. The chief 

 general matters in this part of the report may be given here 

 as follows. 



INDI.A. AND CEYLOX. The Cultivation of Egyptian cotton 

 in Scind has been disappointing, and it lias been suggested 

 that the x^sisocialion might usefully e.itablish an experi- 

 mental plantation and a cotton buying and ginning centre for 

 this district: the question is before the Secretary of State for 

 India, and proposals are being awaited by the Council. The 

 Secretary of State for India has also been approached on 

 behalf of the International Federation of Master Cotton 

 Spinners' and Manufacturers' Associations, with the proposal 

 that every endeavour should lie made to cairy out, in India, 

 the recommendations of the International Cotton Congress 

 at Brussels. 1'hese recommendations are confirmatory of 

 the opinion.s expressed in a letter addressed to Lord Curzon 

 by the British Cotton Growing Association in 1904, a copy 

 of which is given is an appendix to the report. In Ceylon 

 arrangements have been made with a firm at Colombo to take 

 over and work the ginning plant of the Association, and to 

 act as its agents. (The results of this are noted on p. 17-, 

 below.) 



WEST iNJilEs. The staipment is made that the cotton- 

 growing industry of this part ot the worlil is progressing in 

 a satisfactory manner, and that though there has lieen no large 

 increase in the cotton growing area, this is not without its 

 advantages, because of the circumstance that the demand for 

 the best qualities of Sea Island cotton is not unlimited. The 

 report state? further, in regard to this demand: 'The Council 

 are watching this question most carefully, and would at once 

 advise the Imperial Department of Agriculture if they thought 

 there was any danger of permanent over-production. As far 

 as can be judged at present, there seems to ho no fear of not 

 being able to di.'^pose of the whole of the West Indian crop 

 at prices which are satisfactory to the planter.' 



WEST AERIC-V. Exceptional harmattaii winds during the 

 end of the growing season of 190'J caused severe damage to 

 the crop, which was, however, of satisfactory quality. 



GOLD COAST. The small quantity of cotton produced 

 caused it to be decided to abandon the work. The existence 

 of better possibilities in the Northern Territories, however, 

 caused arrangements to be made to open up a new centre at 

 Tamale, assistance being given at the same time in the form 

 of a contribution from the Imperial Government. It is stated 

 that the quality of the native cotton is very satisfactory, and 

 reference is made to the valuable aid that has been afforded 

 by the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Territories. 



LAGOS. The crop suffered from the harmattan winds 

 mentioned above, so that it reached only (i.lOO bales, whereas 

 the output in 1909 was 12,000 bales. Though the quantity 

 was thus inferior to that of the previous crop, there was no 

 decline in the quality of the cotton, most of which met with 

 ready disposal on arrival. Much more satisfactory prospects 

 exist for the coming crop, and a matter of use is that the 

 Council has been able to renew its buying agreement with 

 ihe Lagos merchants. In relation to this, it is given as the 

 conviction of the Council that the co operation of the mer- 

 fcantile community is necessary in other colonies, as well as 

 in Lagos. 



soiJTHEUN xiGEEiA. Here again, the crop suffered on 

 account of the, harmattan winds; nevertheless, the quality of 

 the cotton is excellent. Much more promi.«ing reports have 

 teen received in relation to the next crop. ; '■ ■ 



NORTHERN NIGERIA. It was in this territory that the 

 greatest damage was suffered from the harmattan winds, 

 which adversely affected not only cotton, but all other crops, 

 so that there was actual starvation in many districts. After 

 giving information concerning ginning and traisport arrange- 

 ments, the report states that the quality of the Northern 

 Nigeria cotton is similar to that of Lagos, which is I'dther 

 high in colour and rough in fibre, but extremely strong, and 

 an excellent substitute for middling American. The product 

 from Northern Nigeria is, however, much whiter; it is of 

 excellent grade, and most suitable for Lancashire spinners. 



BRITISH EAST AFRICA. The main work of the: British 

 East Africa Corporation, which is receiving very large finan- 

 cial support from the Association, has been conducted in 

 Uganda, so that no great progress has been made in cotton- 

 growing along the const. A matter of no little interest is that 

 the Council of the Association has recently discussed witlj 

 Colonel Sir Percy Girouard, K.E., K.C.M.G., the possibility 

 of developing largely the country neir the Juba liiver, and 

 a proposal has been made to form a small syndicate for the 

 purpose of carrying out preliminary experiments. The syndi- 

 cate would also investigate, under the best expert advice, the 

 possibilities of adopting a very large irrigation scheme, to cost 

 £1,000,000 or more. 



UGANDA. The statement is made that cotton-growing in 

 Uganda continues to progress by leaps and bounds, and it is 

 expected that the crop for the season ending March 31, 191 1, 

 will be about 1.5,000 bales — the largest production in any 

 one season from any of the new areas opened up by the 

 Association. This remarkable progress, during the five 

 years, is attributed largely to the efforts of the late Governor, 

 Sir H. Hesketh Bell, K.C.M.G:, and his Staff, and the 

 remark is made that: 'for rapid results it is essential that 

 one should receive the active and hearty co-operation of the 

 Government officials ' There is the confident expectation of 

 the Council that the rapid progress will be continued, and 

 that dependence can be placed on Uganda shortly to produce 

 large quantities of cotton. 



XYASALAND. During 1910 the success in cotton grow- 

 ing has increased and the quality is excellent, with most 

 satisfactory prospects for the future, and thanks are expressed 

 to the Government Inspector of Agriculture for his assistance. 



RHODESIA Arrangements have been completed for co- 

 operation with the British South African Company and this 

 fact, together with the help that is being given liy the 

 Administrator of Northern Rhodesia, should ensure good 

 progress. Fj'om other parts of Africa the exports have been 

 con lined to samples which show that a very good cotton can 

 be grown. 



EGYPT AND THE SUDAN. Attention is given to the problem 

 of the falling off of cotton production in Egypt which took 

 place up to the last crop. In regard to the Sudan, important 

 experiments are about to be commenced with a view to 

 finally growing cotton under irrigation. 



The remaining portion of the report states that the Coun- 

 cil has been in communication with parts of the Empire other 

 than those mentioned, Imt that no important develoijments have 

 taken place so far. Finally, the satisfactory progress that is 

 being made in regard to the purely commercial work of the 

 Association is indicated, and attention is drawn to the largQ 

 numbers of new ventures mentioned in the report. The claim 

 is made that the Association has, now, 'proved beyond 

 dispute that given time and money the Empire can pro- 

 duce all the cotton that Lancashire requires.' 



