84 
whiter, and silkier character and which would give at least 30 
per cent. of lint. 
The great difficulty in West Africa was transport, and largely 
in consequence of representations from the Association the 
Lagos Railway was extended to the Niger and a line con- 
structed from Baro to Kano. 
The experiments in Gambia and Sierra Leone were given up 
and only poor results were obtained in the Gold Coast Colony. 
The best results have been obtained in Nigeria, where the crop 
amounts to 16,000 bales per annum. The cotton is worth about 
dd. to 4d. per pound more than Middling American. The 
Association has established a standard bale of 4oo lb., and its 
ginning and baling factories are probably the best equipped 
saw-ginning factories in the world. 
Uganda.—Better results have been obtained in Uganda than 
in any other colony; the Association has no branches there, 
but works through its agents, the British East Africa Corpora- 
tion. Various varieties of seed were indiscriminately distri- 
buted and the cotton was much mixed and also liable to stains. 
There was no properly equipped Agricultural Department, and 
in consequence of representations from the Association experts 
were appointed and the quality was much improved. The 
Association assists in financing and selling the crop and also 
supplies machinery, etc., on easy terms of payment. It is 
constantly in communication with the Colonial Office with 
reference to various points in connection with cotton, such as 
transport facilities, cotton rules, varieties of cotton, buying 
prices, etc. 
The production in Uganda has increased from 500 bales in 
1906, to 29,000 bales in 1912. In 1913, owing to a misunder- 
standing about the issue of seed, the crop was only 26,000 bales. 
The quality is rather better than Texas and fetches from 4d. to 
14d. per pound over Middling American. 
Cotton growing in Uganda also is solely a native industry, 
and there are no plantations owned and managed by Europeans. 
Nyasaland.—The cotton industry in Nyasaland commenced 
on plantations belonging to Europeans, who received large 
financial assistance from the Association. Transport difficulties 
were very serious, and the Association and its friends assisted 
in raising the necessary capital for the railway from the 
Zambesi to Port Herald. In 1910 the Association established 
its own branches, and since then cotton growing as a native 
industry has rapidly advanced. The crop in 1912 amounted to 
6,800 bales. The cotton, though not long in staple, is very 
fine and silky, and is worth from 1d. to 2}d. per pound over 
Midding American. Nyasaland seed has given good results in 
other colonies. 
