318 
necessity displace others who, through antiquated methods or 
less suitable conditions, are unable to compete favourably. 
The future success of the sisal industry of British East 
Africa seems therefore assured. 
{ Discussion. | 
Mr. T.-Tuornron: Mr. Chairman—I shall be glad if the 
lecturer will give us some idea as to the climatic conditions 
of East Africa. Some of us come from other parts of Africa, 
and it will be interesting to know if the climatic conditions 
are similar in East Africa to what they are in the parts of the 
Continent where we are working. In Nigeria at a certain 
time of the year the atmosphere is very moist, and then it 
changes, and is as dry as it has been moist during the other 
part of the year. I wondered if sisal would. be able to with- 
stand a change from a very damp climate to a very dry one. 
Mr. WiccLteswortH: The climate varies very much in 
British East Africa. You have one climate at the coast, 
another at a higher altitude, and still another higher up. The 
rainfall all over Africa is one of the most peculiar things; it 
varies so much. You will get a valley deprived of rainfall, 
and then on the top of the hills looking over that valley, not 
more than five or six miles off, you will have a copious rain- 
fall of 50 or 60 inches, or even more. In German East Africa, 
as far as can be ascertained the climatic conditions are not very 
different from those of British East Africa, especially on the 
coast. But the Germans have not cultivated sisal to the same 
height that we have. 
Mr. Manuire: | should like Mr. Wigglesworth to give us 
some rough idea of what it costs to land a ton.of fibre in 
England. He has given us working costs and so on, which 
will be very useful, but they want a little following out. If 
we could get it just roughly for purposes of reference, it would 
be very useful. 
Mr. WicerrswortH: I think that is a question which is 
rather difficult to answer, because obviously those who know 
have it in confidence from those who plant and produce the 
fibre; and I do not think they would care to publish the infor- 
mation. I will only say that the cost of growing sisal in East 
Africa, especially in the uplands, is, as far as I can find out, the 
lowest in the world. 
The Cuatrman: I will conclude by proposing a vote of 
thanks to Mr. Wigglesworth for his clear and informing 
lecture on this very interesting subject, which is certainly a 
most interesting question to all colonies and all tropical 
countries. I ask you all to join with me in thanking Mr. 
Wigglesworth. 
