AGRICULTURAL SANITATION IN THE GOLD COAST. 



By W. H. PATTERSON. 

 Government Entomologist, Gold Coast Colony. 



IN presenting these few notes no attempt is made to 

 offer observations regarding 1 the general sanitation affect- 

 ing such insects as mosquitoes and tsetse-flies, nor to 

 discuss the relative health of the colony as affecting 

 Europeans compared with other parts of the Tropics, nor 

 is it possible to give results of research work; but the 

 idea is to raise the question of the wisdom of allowing 

 the growth of industries to exceed educational control. 

 What is meant can perhaps be clearly seen by the cocoa 

 industry of the Gold Coast Colony. This cocoa industry, 

 though as yet not out of its infancy, has had a most 

 remarkable development, and the following figures will 

 explain its present value : 



It will be seen that the increased output for 1913 is 

 26,671,499 lb., 38 per cent, over that for 1912, with a value 

 increase of 846,485, or 51 per cent. Whilst half of this 

 increase is due to the late season, the balance is credited 

 to an increased bearing area, i.e., new farms coming into 

 productivity. 



The Annual Report of the Agricultural Department for 

 1912 contains the following significant statement: 

 " Already signs are everywhere apparent that there is 

 grave danger of the farms being extended beyond what 

 might be reckoned reasonable limits, resulting in neglect 



