368 SCIENCE IN AFRICA 



( 1 933t>) of Pretoria University visited the Protectorate and reported 

 that the climate was suitable for citrus production, but that, owing 

 to the marketing factor, oranges were more likely to be successful 

 than other fruits. A limited production of grapefruit in time for the 

 early summer market in the United Kingdom was warranted. As 

 a result of his visit the department of agriculture have begun 

 experimental work with citrus trees and an irrigation survey near 

 areas suitable for cultivation has been started. 



In Tanganyika orange-growing is for the most part in native 

 hands, and little has been done to raise the standard of the produce 

 but the small citrus station at Muheza has been established to 

 make good these deficiencies. So far European planters have 

 shown little interest in the industry, and it seems unlikely that 

 the Tanganyika orange will be able to compete on the Bombay 

 market with the South African product (Tanganyika, Agricul- 

 ture, 1935, D.R.) The establishmxcnt of a small export trade in 

 oranges and grapefruit looks hopeful in Nigeria, however, because 

 the crop season there does not coincide with that of other countries, 

 and it was decided in 1935 that the department of agriculture 

 should encourage the commercial production of these fruits on a 

 small scale (Nigeria, Agriculture, 1935, D.R.). In the Gold Coast 

 a new nursery for testing varieties of citrus trees was established 

 at the Asuansi agricultural station in 1935, the object being to 

 select one or two varieties of each kind of citrus which are both 

 suited to the climate and capable of producing good yields. 

 Experiments in canning grapefruit are being made. There is a 

 lime-growing industry now established in the Gold Coast and 

 centred at Abakrampa, but by 1936 overproduction had become 

 so acute that the agricultural department found it necessary to 

 issue a warning to farmers not to plant any more trees (Gold 

 Coast, Agriculture, 1935, D.R.). In Sierra Leone citrus trials 

 failed at the Newton experimental station, but experiments are 

 now conducted at Njala. Certain diseases have proved trouble- 

 some, especially scab disease, caused by a fungus, which curls the 

 leaves and blemishes the fruit. 



In Mozambique the district round Lourengo Marques is the 

 most favourable for citrus cultivation. In 1931 more grapefruit 

 than oranges were grown. Studies on grafting, selection, improved 



