FIBRES 145 



territories of the Gold Coast is said to belong to two 

 species allied to H. Sabdariffa, and that grown by the 

 Yoruba people of the western province of Southern 

 Nigeria, and called by them " Ramo," has been identified 

 as H. guineensis. 



In the present instance only H . lunariifolius is referred 

 to, since this is the species cultivated throughout the 

 country. 



Although in the other countries the allied plants are 

 cultivated, they are invariably grown upon a small scale, 

 and are only seen in small patches adjoining houses, or 

 cultivated as a mixed crop with peppers, okra, etc. ; in 

 Northern Nigeria fairly extensive tracts are planted, and 

 the crop is treated as carefully as the food crops in the 

 vicinity. In Ilorin, Kabba, and Bassa the seeds are sown 

 on ridges in drills a few inches apart, each drill having 

 four to six plants in it. The sowing in this locality is done 

 in the middle of May, and the crop is not irrigated, being 

 dependent upon the rainfall for development. The 

 plants, when they have reached the height of six or 

 more inches, do not appear to be adversely affected by 

 a prolonged continuance of dry weather in the Niger 

 Valley, but this is perhaps accounted for by the humidity 

 of the atmosphere. 



The conditions last referred to do not, however, apply 

 to the northern districts, and the importance with which 

 the crop is regarded is seen in the fact that it is worth 

 while to irrigate it. At Fogola the plants are also sown 

 in drills on ridges, but the drills are made at about one 

 foot apart from one another, and ten or more plants 

 are left in each drill. The seed is sown in April and 

 irrigated until the rainy season commences in June. 



The stalks are said to be cut after the plant has fruited, 

 and are described as being retted in a manner similar to 

 that employed for Indian jute. The unretted " ribbons " 

 as well as the prepared fibre are offered for sale in the local 

 markets, the former being employed in the rough state 

 for twisting into rope used for fastening roofing poles, 

 etc. The prepared fibre produces an excellent kind of 

 rope, and is in appearance very similar to Bengal jute, 

 although it has slightly less lustre. Specimens of North- 

 ern Nigerian rama fibre have been examined from time 

 to time at the Imperial Institute, and have been satis- 



