CROP-PLANTS 367 



entomologists since 1932. In Nyasaland also, selection of bananas 

 is progressing at the Zomba experimental station. Mozambique 

 exports bananas to South Africa from the district round Lourengo 

 Marques. 



In West Africa the centre of the banana industry is in the French 

 Cameroons, from which large quantities are exported to Europe. 

 The trade is still largely in German hands, and has expanded 

 rapidly since 1931, owing to improved means of transport. Quan- 

 tities of bananas are grown there by natives for food, and banana 

 plantations have also been established by Europeans in French 

 Guinea. The technique adopted, described by Chevalier (1931), 

 is based on that in use in the Canaries. Some native plantations, 

 for example, the Futa-Gallon, produce very fine fruit. In the 

 Western Province of the Gold Coast efforts are being made to 

 estabhsh the banana export trade on a sound footing. So far the 

 bunches produced have been small in size, largely owing to reduced 

 fertility of the soil, and it has also proved difficult to persuade 

 peasant farmers to give their plots the necessary amount of cultiva- 

 tion, in view of the comparatively negligible amount required for 

 profitable cacao production (Gold Coast, Agriculture, 1935-6, 

 D.R.). In his report Sir F. A. Stockdale (1936) urged that a survey 

 of land suitable for banana cultivation should be made without 

 delay. A fairly comprehensive survey has now been made by the 

 agricultural department; some of the areas adjoining the Central 

 Province Railway have been found very suitable, and farther west 

 new roads are being constructed to tap other promising areas. 

 Experiments to ascertain the best methods of cultivation are in 

 progress at Asuansi and it is proposed to establish two or three 

 demonstration farms. Reports on trial shipments of bananas are 

 published each month in the Gold Coast Farmer, and methods of 

 controlling disease are outlined from time to time. In Sierra 

 Leone improved methods of cultivation are studied at the Newton 

 experimental farm. 



Citrus growing is a very promising industry in South Africa, and 

 possibly Rhodesia. In the Union research is carried out at Nel- 

 spruit, Buffelspoort, the University of Pretoria, and by several 

 commercial companies (Clark Powell 1933a). With a view to 

 developing the industry in Nyasaland, Professor H. Clark Powell 



