COTTON 235 



suited to form the basis of Uganda cotton, and all other 

 cottons have been discarded. 



Work is still going on in acclimatizing and grading 

 up a suitable cotton, with highly gratifying results. 



Better methods of handling are being gradually intro- 

 duced, more storage accommodation provided, and cotton 

 ginneries erected in the heart of the producing districts. 

 It is hoped by these means, aided by improved transport 

 facilities, to lessen very considerably the quantity of 

 stained and dirty cotton shipped from Uganda. 



Work on one of the Government plantations is almost 

 entirely given up to the improvement of Uganda cotton 

 by selection, and the seed thus produced is sown in 

 restricted areas until ultimately sufficient is obtained for 

 the whole of the country's seed distribution. The seed 

 supply is entirely in the hands of the Government, and 

 each season's sowing is done with the highest quality 

 of seed obtainable, and which has been grown only in 

 a specially selected area. 



Cotton growing is purely a native industry and the 

 large exports are due entirely to the thousands of small 

 cultivators throughout the country. 



The yield varies greatly according to the district and 

 the season. In parts of the Buganda Province a yield 

 of 300 Ib. to 400 Ib. of seed-cotton per acre is common, 

 although in the Bulemezi County the yield is higher, 

 whilst in the Eastern Province 600 Ib. of seed-cotton per 

 acre is a moderate estimate in an average season. 



Large numbers of native instructors are at work 

 throughout the Protectorate teaching the peasants how 

 to cultivate and handle this crop, and it is hoped by 

 this means to eliminate many of the complaints incidental 

 to the starting of a new industry. 



All the cotton seed is distributed free of charge to 

 the growers, and now the quantity exceeds 300 tons per 

 annum, the distribution of which entails a large amount 

 of labour and organization. 



Uganda cotton is of good quality and sells regularly 

 at from 50 to 150 points on Middling American. 



Legislation has been passed with a view to improving 

 and maintaining a higher standard in Uganda cotton 



