AND PROBLEMS OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA. 211 



Colony is the farmer, and the policy of the Colony should be the production of 

 such useful men. The experience of the Agricultural Department in the matter 

 of pupils shows that good material cannot be obtained at the commencing wage 

 of £15 a year, and there seems no other plan to obtain the required material 

 than to enter into competition with other branches by offering as good 

 inducements. 



Like every other European idea introduced into a young Colony, agriculture 

 requires first to train teachers. The Agricultural Department should be afforded 

 fuller facilities for training natives who have attained, at least, the standard 

 required of third class clerks. 



Another method may be suggested. Bush boys who have not been to school 

 might be indentured and trained in European methods till these become a habit. 

 On reaching a high enough proficiency they might be allowed land to hold in 

 trust to farm for themselves. These " model farms " should be subject to 

 inspection by the Agricultural Department. 



The particular working conditions of cocoa farming may now be discussed, 

 with special reference to the cocoa-growing district of Agege. 



The general condition of cocoa farms, at present, is bad. The most obvious 

 defects are that they are bad because (1) the land is not thoroughly cleared and 

 stumped ; (2) the trees are not planted so that they may be readily worked ; 

 (3) the trees are not tended with even elementary skill ; (4) decaying branches 

 and pods are left on the trees and on the ground. 



Briefly, the large cocoa farmers have attempted too much. The usual plea 

 is that they cannot obtain labour. This is quite true. Labourers prefer to 

 work on the railway or at the waterworks at Iju. But even if labour were 

 plentiful and cheap, it is extremely doubtful whether that labour would be 

 efficiently used. 



The root question is undoubtedly the thorough clearing and stumping of the land. 

 There are great objections to this. How is it possible to clear the land of such 

 huge trees ? Why should this generation trouble to do anything, the good of 

 which it cannot see and will not reap ? 



Choice has to be made between cutting such trees down and destroying them — 

 by fire or any other method ; letting them rot away ; leaving them to grow to be 

 dealt with in future when they die. Clearing land is too big a matter for indi- 

 vidual effort, and needs handling on a large scale. It is not within the province 

 of such a report to give details, but a study of bush-clearing methods as practised 

 in America and Australia would be suggestive. To allow logs and roots to rot 

 naturally means that all manner of pests (termites and beetles particularly) and 

 fungus diseases would be harboured. Leaving the trees alone is only postponing 

 the question. When the trees do die, the amount of damage done to the cocoa 

 farms in clearing may be very great, but the benefit reaped from the farm during 

 the life-time of the trees has to be set against this. 



In the event of the Government taking up the problem it should not be 

 approached from the point of view of benefiting the large rich farmer only. If 

 land be cleared for such a man he should pay in just proportion to the benefit he 

 is likely to obtain, as also should subsequent owners of the land. So, without 

 saddling posterity with a debt, it still is not deprived of its responsibilities. 



