150 
the Administrator of the Gambia on the subject of certain agricultural 
hopes that his efforts will be — so as to produce results of a 
permanent and satisfactory charact 
. As preliminary industries Mr. "Carter is disposed to regard the 
cultivat tion of oe and ceara rubber trees as weli suited to the 
e 
or free to all persons willing to undertake their cultivation. The exact 
localities for establishing nurseries can be decided only on the spot. 
It is important, however, that the nurseries be easily accessible to the 
people, and if possible under their observation. From what can be 
thered on this side Cape St. Mary and similar localities deserve to 
be — considered in connexion with the planting of cocoa-nut 
alm 
4. "s a despatch from Governor Moloney to the Colonial Office, mes 
12th November 1888, it is stated, * At the end of Cn mber the c 
* nut seed planting of the Government reached 31, 483. It is device 
* to establish permanently in the Eastern and. We stern Districts, ut the 
* beginning of the next rainy season, plantations to the extent of 30,000, 
* the fruit of which in time should be worth 6,0007. per annum to the 
Government; further, to continue in the future the nursery work to 
keep a supply of seedlings on hand to replace failures, and for distri- 
bution among the people in exchange for seed nuts, or by purchas 
e ^ anna 
a ^ n 
* at the sars rate of one penny eac 1e Govern- 
* ment has recently received an order for 1, 000 seedlin ngs for a cocoa-nut 
" plantation contemplated at the south ‘east end of the Island of 
Ld 
wn 
p the Fifth Report on the Botanical Station at Lagos recently 
Hines it is further mentioned that * 1,000 cocoa-nut seedlings have 
* been recently sold during the quarter from the Leckie nurseries,’ > and 
* 5,000 cocoa-nut seedlings are to be supplied in the Western District 
* at the beginning of the next rainy season 
6. To obtain results that will at all affect the welfare of the settle- 
ment it is necessary at first to take up two or three of the most suitable 
promis re i 
ameliorate local conditions, as well as give rise eventually to an export 
trade. In addition to fresh nuts, for: which there is a steady demand 
both | in Europe and in the United States, there would eventually arise 
a demand for oil and copra as also for coir fibre, similar to what was 
lately sent to this country from Lagos. The best or “ oo € fibre 
. sells at 307. per ton, while “ mat ” fibre sells at about 107. pe . 
.... 7. If the cocoa-nut palm thrives at all at the Gambia and ‘yields only 
‘Moderate crops it is evident that no plant can be more suitable for 
permanent cultivation. Its natural home is on sandy sca-shores 
— to the full influence of the sea, and if there is water in the sub-« 
soil it can bear certain periods of drought : with impunity. — 
