290 COTTON 



tribe. He did not stop to consider whether the yield of 

 his crop was large or small, or whether the staple was 

 long or short, as compared with that of other countries. 

 But when we come to consider the possibilities of Nigeria 

 as a producer of cotton for the world's markets the 

 aspect of things is entirely altered. 



The only way by which the native can be induced to 

 produce a crop for export is to create in him the desire 

 for money. He will then strive to gratify that desire by 

 the easiest method possible. In other words, he will do 

 the work, or grow the crop, that will yield him the best 

 return for his labour. That is the crucial test, and it is 

 by this test that cotton must ultimately rise or fall in 

 Nigeria. When viewed in this light, questions as to 

 what is the yield per acre, what is the length and quality 

 of the staple, and what is the ginning percentage, become 

 all-important, for they determine what return the pro- 

 ducer will get for his labour. It is the answer to this 

 question which determines what shall be the leading crop 

 or crops in every country, and it naturally results in a 

 definite geographical distribution of the commercial 

 products of the world into those countries best adapted 

 for the production of each. 



The rapid opening up of Nigeria to trade is resulting 

 not only in a demand for cotton, but for ground nuts, 

 cereals, and raw products of every description. There 

 are in consequence many ways open to the native by 

 which he may earn money, and the question as to 

 whether cotton cultivation will be among the chief of 

 them is just now being weighed in the balance. At 

 present the tendency is to plant ground nuts in prefer- 

 ence to cotton. The popularity of this valuable crop may 

 be gauged by the fact that the export of ground nuts 

 (mainly decorticated) has increased nearly tenfold in a 

 single year. There is no doubt that the Northern 

 Provinces of Nigeria as a whole are admirably adapted 

 for the production of this oil seed, and that unless cotton 

 cultivation can be made much more profitable than it is 

 at present it will receive but scant attention. 



The British Cotton Growing Association have for some 

 years past spared no trouble or expense to develop the 



