341 
We have two other papers on the list from Italy on similar 
subjects, but the authors are, unfortunately, not present. 
If no one has any remarks to make on Dr. Mangano’s paper, 
I will ask you to pass a vote of thanks to all the authors who 
have read their papers this morning. 
The following papers were taken as read: — 
THE COTTON INDUSTRY IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCES OF 
NIGERIA. 
By P. H. Lams, 
Director of Agriculture, Northern Provinces, Nigeria. 
[ ABSTRACT. | 
The paper opens by drawing attention to the fact that cotton 
has been an established crop in the Northern Provinces of 
Nigeria from very ancient times, and that this fact has led 
to exaggerated ideas as to the possibilities of the country from 
the point of view of supplying the world’s markets. 
The economic conditions which control the production of 
cotton in Nigeria are then discussed, and it is pointed out that 
cotton will only be cultivated there on a large scale if the 
grower finds the crop sufficiently remunerative. 
The country is undoubtedly admirably suited for the pro- 
duction of ground nuts, and this crop bids fair to become the 
more popular of the two. 
The only way in which cotton cultivation can be placed on 
a surer and more permanent basis is by increasing the yield 
per acre and improving the quality of the staple. 
The pioneer work of the British Cotton Growing Associa- 
tion, and the steps which it has taken since 1906 to increase 
the output of cotton by the establishment of buying centres, 
the erection of ginneries, and the free distribution of seed are 
then alluded to. 
Statistics of the number of bales exported in the year 1913 
are also given. 
The paper goes on to describe the principal indigenous 
cottons of the country from an economic standpoint. 
The latter part of the paper deals with the work which has 
recently been done by the newly-formed Department of 
Agriculture to evolve a more useful type of cotton for local 
cultivation. Two experimental farms were started, and exotic 
cottons were introduced for comparison with the local 
varieties. 
