COTTON IN BRITISH WEST AFRICA 79 



were established, and the Association undertook to 

 purchase seed-cotton from the natives at a minimum 

 price of id. per Ib. The results of the work on the 

 experiment farms proved that such plantations under 

 European supervision could not be commercially 

 profitable. It was found that certain American 

 varieties could be successfully established in the 

 country, but it was not considered advisable to dis- 

 tribute large quantities of exotic seed which had not 

 been thoroughly acclimatised. Efforts were there- 

 fore made to improve the native cotton by seed 

 selection at the ginneries, and this was rendered 

 possible by ensuring that all the buying centres came 

 under the direct control of the Association and that 

 the seed-cotton was ginned in their own factories. A 

 regular system of seed selection has been conducted 

 in this manner, with the result that the quality of the 

 cotton has undergone a steady improvement. The 

 undesirable varieties have been almost completely 

 eliminated, and a product of regular grade is now 

 being obtained which realises from 10 to 20 points 

 (o'iod.-o'2od. per lb;) in advance of the current price 

 of " middling " American cotton. This cotton is 

 slightly over one inch in length, somewhat harsh and 

 coarse, and of a brownish tint. Unfortunately the 

 seed-cotton gives rather a small yield of fibre (27 per 

 cent.) on ginning, but the cotton is very strong, and 

 suffers but little waste in the manufacturing processes. 



In order to deal with the large quantities of cotton 

 seed which are not required for distribution, a mill 

 was erected at Ibadan for the expression of cotton 

 seed oil. It has been found, however, that in the 

 absence of a local demand for the oil and cake it is 

 more profitable to export the seed. 



The best results have been obtained in the region 

 formerly known as the Western or Lagos Province, 

 where the natives have undertaken cotton growing 

 with considerable zeal. This region is inhabited by 

 the Yorubas, an industrious race, well versed in 

 agricultural pursuits and fully able to grow the crop 

 to advantage. 



In the Eastern Province, much less cotton is pro- 



