COTTON 



293 



chosen for this work were situated in the Zaria and Ilorin 

 Provinces respectively, the former representing the more 

 arid conditions of the north, whereas the latter is situated 

 some 200 miles further south, where the rainfall is 

 heavier and the atmosphere more humid. A parallel 

 series of variety tests was carried out at each of these 

 places. The following table gives their respective rain- 

 falls for 1913: 



January 



February 



March 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September 



October 



November 



December 



Total 



27-90 



43-82 



The exotic varieties chosen for trial were Allen's 

 Improved (Uganda seed), Nyasaland Upland (the acclima- 

 tized cotton of Nyasaland), and Durango (one of the 

 latest improved American types). Ten acres of each of 

 the imported varieties were grown at each farm, as well 

 as five acres of the native local variety. The idea of 

 having such large plots was to eliminate as far as possible 

 field errors due to variations of soil, and at the same 

 time to secure for propagation the following year appre- 

 ciable quantities of any variety which should give 

 promising results. 



The Zaria farm was manured by the usual native 

 method of kraaling cattle on the land at night. The 

 amount of manure applied in this way was estimated at 

 three tons per acre. No manure was applied to the Ilorin 

 farm, as the land had not been cultivated for some years, 

 and, moreover, no manure was available. 



Two sowings took place in June and July respectively 

 in order to minimize as far as possible risks occasioned 

 by the weather. 



