180 WILD AND CULTIVATED COTTONS 



American seeds. ... It is necessary to find an imported or hybrid 

 variety that is better than the native, which is rough and poor in 

 colour, but fair in staple and strong. . . . The quality of cotton from 

 Satis- Lagos now coming forward is better than last year's crop, thus 

 factory showing that the Natives are using better seed and taking more care 

 in its cultivation. Most of the shipments have fetched prices ranging 

 from the value of Middling American to 20 points on. Several lots 

 have been sold at 25 to 40 points on, this being the quality most 

 needed in Lancashire.' Mr. Atkins, after giving particulars of several 

 localities where special efforts are being made, concludes by saying : 

 ' There is no doubt that the cotton-growing industry is now firmly 

 established in this colony, and the knowledge that the Association 

 has guaranteed to purchase at a fixed price all cotton grown has 

 given confidence, and the Association is now convinced that a very 

 large quantity of useful cotton will be grown in the immediate 

 future.' 



N.Nigeria. North Nigeria. 'In this Protectorate,' says Mr. Atkins, ' there is 

 an enormous quantity of land (larger than the whole of Texas) 

 suitable for cotton-growing, and a large population of agriculturists 

 of a type superior to that of the natives near the coast. Cotton has 

 always been grown in this territory and there is a very large 

 business in native cotton cloth.' Particulars are then given of 

 the centres of the Association's operations, and Mr. Atkins next 

 observes, ' There is one great obstacle to a rapid extension of cotton- 

 growing, and that is the want of transport. . . . This question of 

 transport is of vital importance, and the Colony cannot be developed, 

 nor can the British Cotton-Growing Association carry its schemes to 

 a successful issue if this is not improved.' 



It is understood that vigorous efforts are being made to extend 

 cotton cultivation in West Africa, and for this purpose American 

 Togo-land expert cotton-growers have been sent to the British possessions. In 

 the same way the Germans are putting forth strenuous efforts in 

 Togo-land. It seems highly likely that some of the forms of this 

 species may engage attention and be employed at least as indigenous 

 stocks to be improved. The specimens mentioned above, in fact, 

 show that this is the case. But reasoning purely from botanical 

 considerations, it seems highly probable that, so far as exotics are 

 concerned, greater success may be attained on the west side of 

 Africa with Uplands rather than with Egyptians. 



An extensive series of references might be given to publications 



