114 



NIGERIA SOUTHERN PROVINCES 



MAIZE. In the last few years the cultivation of a 

 short-season " white " maize has been taken up, especi- 

 ally among the Yorubas, in the Western Province, 

 although the variety is also found in the fields farther 

 to the east. (See Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, vol. 

 vii. [1909], pp. 145-8.) 



Shipments since 1907 are given below : 



Tons Value 



1907 

 1908 

 1909 

 1910 

 1911 

 1912 



Tons Value 

 40,349 

 5,803 

 941 

 5,064 

 4,367 

 3,696 



11,841 



272 

 981 

 876 

 405 



A difficulty has arisen in connection with the prepara- 

 tion of the crop for shipment ; it having been found that 

 very large quantities arrive in Europe in a weevilly con- 

 dition. Various methods have been suggested to remedy 

 this, including disinfection with carbon bisulphide, but 

 the use of this last is dangerous. 



A restriction with regard to the time of buying the 

 July August crop is recommended for adoption by the 

 merchants, in order to prevent immature, insufficiently 

 dried corn being shipped. It is insisted, however, in some 

 quarters, that, until the holds of ships are systematically 

 cleaned out before loading, no amount of precaution on 

 shore will prevent shipments becoming weevilled during the 

 voyage. (See article on " The Cultivation and Marketing 

 of Maize " in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, vol. vi. 

 [1908], pp. 261-77.) 



Experiments were carried out in 1911, 1912 and 1913 

 to determine the most profitable time for sowing maize. 

 The results were, however, conflicting, and no definite 

 recommendation could be made owing to the irregularity 

 of rainfall. 



CASSAVA. Among the more important field crops, 

 cassava has to be reckoned. Two well-marked forms 

 occur, which are readily recognised by the different 

 characters of their leaves, one having the leaflets digitate 

 and pointed, and the other digitate and spathulate, with 

 the central leaflet shortened. Cassava forms an impor- 



