COTTON 



79 



type, and could scarcely be compared for quantity owing 

 to the unfavourable season. The American plants used 

 for pollination in the 1906 crosses were those which have 

 given the best results among the exotic forms planted, 

 and are called " Black Rattler " and " Richmond." Of 

 the four crosses attempted in that year, that of " Black 

 Rattler " x " Volta " was said to have proved the most 

 successful in point of yield. 



Small plots of native and American cottons have been 

 planted at Kumassi, and experimental plants at Aburi, 

 but the conditions have not been so favourable at these 

 places as at Labolabo. At Obuassi, in Ashanti, an 

 attempt was also made, but the soil seemed too stiff 

 and the plants were not healthy. Land suitable 

 for native cotton farms seems to be that on the 

 west bank of the Volta river, north of the Labolabo 

 plantation. 



Valuations of Samples examined at the Imperial Insti- 

 tute. The following selection of specimens of Gold 

 Coast cottons examined and reported on at different 

 times by the Imperial Institute will give some in- 

 dication of the relative values : 



Place 



Labolabo 



Variety 



Staple 



Standard at 

 time of valua- 

 tion "Middl. 

 Amer." 



Volta clean-seed 



Green-seed 



Black Volta, small woolly 



seeded from N. Terr. 

 Black Rattler 

 Native x Aliens 

 Native x Russels 

 Native x Peruvian . 

 Native x Culpepper 

 Volta x Black Rattler 

 Volta x Richmond 

 Greenseed x Black Rattler 

 Greenseed x Richmond 

 Tamale, N. Terr., Native 



The cottons from native varieties crossed with American 

 represent the first generation only, as in no case were the 

 following generations found constant. 



The large profits which have been made from cocoa 

 in the forest country have caused cotton-growing to be 

 neglected, and it seems improbable that large quantities 



