126 



along the shore, and this takes its origin from the hills near 

 the coast and has its bottom level at the sea. 



From the investigations carried out by the writer he has 

 formed the opinion that the present water resources, especially 

 for pastoral use, may be considerably increased by the boring 

 of wells in some parts of the Colony, and especially in the zone 

 of crystalline rocks, in some parts of the alluvial zones and in 

 the coast district. 



The following papers were taken as read : 



NOTE SUE LA FERTILITE NATURELLE DES TERRES DE LA 

 VALL^E DU MOYEN-NIGER. 



Par M. J. LEMMET, 



Directeur du Laboratoire d' Analyses de ^Inspection 

 d' Agriculture a Dakar. 



[ABSTRACT.] 



En depit de leur faible richesse, en acide phosphorique et en 

 chaux, les terres de la vallee du Moyen-Niger, sont des terres 

 fertiles, et partout, ou ['alimentation en eau leur est assuree, 

 elles sont productives. 



Cette fertilite naturelle resulte, d'une part (terres non 

 inondees) d'un choix heureux des cultures, et d'une methode 

 culturale bien comprise; et d'autre part (terres inondees et 

 terres irriguees) de I'enrichissement periodique de ces terres 

 en elements fertilisants, dans des conditions un peu speciales : 

 enrichissement direct en azote aux depens de 1'air (microbes 

 fixateurs d'azote); enrichisssement en azote, acide phos- 

 phorique, potasse, chaux, et humus grace aux substances com- 

 plexes diverses, charriees par les eaux du fleuve (fumier des 

 troupeaux, ordures des villages, etc.). C'est dans 1'union 

 etroite de 1'elevage et de la culture, qu'est le secret de la mise 

 en valeur veritable de ce pays. 



[TRANSLATION.] 



NOTE ON THE NATURAL FERTILITY OF THE LAND IN 

 THE VALLEY OF THE MIDDLE NIGER. 



Notwithstanding its poverty in phosphoric acid and in lime, 

 the land forming the valley of the Middle Niger is fertile, and, 

 wherever there is an assured water supply, it is productive. 



This natural fertility arises on the one hand (in the districts 

 not subject to inundation) from a happy selection of crops and 

 a thorough understanding of the method of agriculture; and 

 on the other hand (inundated and irrigated districts) from the 



