136 



NIGERIA- NORTHERN PROVINCES 



vinces, cotton has existed from the earliest times, and 

 was long established as an important export to North 

 Africa by caravan. A small-boiled variety with a short 

 Btem takes the place of the tall cottons of the Niger 

 valley. The quality of the lint, although fair, is of a 

 shorter staple, and the plant is less prolific. 



In addition to the three kinds referred to, all of which 

 are grown as field crops, single plants of a fourth are 

 sometimes seen near villages, especially in the Bassa 

 Province. This is the crimson-flowered tree-cotton 

 identified as Oossypium arbor eum, var. sanguineum, and 

 is nowhere cultivated upon a large scale. The lint is 

 silky and fine, and the seed is covered with green fuzz. 



Exotic Cottons. American and Egyptian seed have been 

 introduced in many localities, especially in the Provinces 

 of the Niger valley. Cotton grown from American Up- 

 land seed in Bassa Province has been well reported upon, 

 but the deterioration of the quality of seed reproduced 

 by this kind has proved a serious drawback to establish- 

 ment. It is generally acknowledged that the indigenous 

 cottons are hardier and more prolific than the introduced 

 varieties, and are better able to withstand the attacks of 

 the local insect pests. It is probable that the climate 

 of the Northern Provinces will be found more suitable 

 for the cultivation of American Upland cottons, as the 

 indigenous plant of that region more nearly approximates 

 the latter type. 



Valuation of Cottons. The following table shows the 

 value of different cottons grown in Northern Nigeria and 

 examined at the Imperial Institute. (See Professor 

 Dunstan's "British Cotton Cultivation," pp. 34-37.) 



Locality. 



& 



6<f. 



Kind. Length of Staple. Value. 



American -9-1-2 in 



1-1-3 



1-1.3 

 8-1-2 



1-1.3 

 9-1.4 

 9-1.3 

 9-1-2 

 1--1-3 

 9-1-3 

 Native 1-1-4 



1-1-3 

 9-1-4 



Standard value at 



time of test. 

 M.A. 



M.RP. 9- Id. 



Sd. 



