SECTION III: AFRICAN COTTONS 179 



the Gold Coast. While, of course, there are other species grown in 

 West Africa than G. punctatum and its associate G. hirsutum (as, for 

 example, G. peruvianum, see p. 213), the G. punctatum series consti- 

 tutes so very important a feature of the cottons of the Colonies and 

 Protectorates named, that it is convenient to allude to the West 

 African cotton fields collectively in this place. As part justification of 

 this course it may be added that no surer evidence of the possibilities 

 of the future can be obtained regarding any country than from the 

 study of the indigenous or more prevalent species there met with. 



In a paper on ' The Work of the British Cot ton- Growing Associa- British 

 tion,' Mr. John C. Atkins, Secretary, submitted to the Third Inter- Growing 



national Cotton Congress, held on June 25, 1906, many interesting 

 particulars regarding the present day West African cotton cultivation. 

 The following abstract may be useful : 



Sierra Leone. Of this colony he concludes by saying : ' Taking 

 all things into consideration, despite the apparent failures of the past 

 two seasons, the Association looks confidently to the future.' 



Gold Coast. Of this region he remarks : ' For two years an experi- Gold 

 mental farm has been carried on at Labolabo, on the Volta Eiver, by Coast - 

 the Government of the Gold Coast, and the Association has con- 

 tributed a considerable amount towards the expenses. The results 

 have been satisfactory, and good cotton has been grown from Ameri- 

 can seed. ... So satisfied is the Association with the prospects that 

 arrangements have been made to take over the work hitherto done by 

 the Government, they giving a grant towards the cost. It is intended 

 to push matters energetically, and gins and presses have been sent 

 out, and next season a power-ginnery will be erected. ... It is con- 

 fidently expected that very shortly several thousand bales of cotton 

 will be produced in this colony, and that the efforts of the Association 

 will be fully justified.' 



Southern Nigeria. Mr. Atkins observes : ' It is in Lagos (which S. Nigeria. 

 has recently been incorporated with Southern Nigeria) that the 

 greatest development has taken place. The Association started a 

 small ginnery at Aro, Abeokuta, on the railway, about sixty miles 

 from the coast, in 1903, the total number of bales exported in that 

 year being 200. ... In 1905 this was increased to 5,000, and this 

 year over 10,000 bales are expected. . . . The Natives of the Hinter- 

 land of Lagos are all agriculturists, and take readily to growing 

 cotton. . . . The plantation of Ibadan has not up to now proved very 

 successful, but some good cotton has been grown from various 



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