27 



1897,* stated, "as regards the cultivation of tropical products I 

 am sorry to say that the result of enquiries in the best informed 

 quarters is a general opinion that we shall be unable to get the 

 natives to take up anything of commercial importance until they 

 actually see plantations of the same growing, and in some cases 

 yielding returns under Government control and supervision. At 

 present they are, as a rule, content with forest produce, and with 

 planting fast-growing food stuffs for immediate consumption. 



" A few trees and shrubs in a botanical garden give them no 

 idea of how the same should be worked and cultivated as a 

 plantation, and when they do purchase coffee or cocoa plants they 

 generally soon lose them from sheer neglect. 



" I propose for your consideration that in 1898 we should select 

 a well-watered fertile tract of ground in a conveniently central 

 situation, and that we should establish there an experimental 

 model farm, at which there should be blocks of from two to four 

 acres each of such crops as different sorts of rubber, tobacco, 

 coffee, pepper, gambier, kola nut, tapioca, cotton and indigo. 



" Such a farm would not only be an object lesson for the 

 instruction of the natives, but would be the distributing centre for 

 plants and seeds for extension and development of such agricultural 

 enterprises as might be found suitable and successful." 



The expenses for the year (1898) were estimated at £2,000 for 

 the model farm and £2,000 for the encouragement of agricultural 

 enterprise. 



The Secretary of State, while appreciating the importance of 

 the subject, considered that it was doubtful whether it would be 

 possible to incur any new charges of the kind suggested, having 

 regard to the other pecuniary liabilities which the Colony was 

 then assuming. 



Reviewing these suggestions the Director of Kewf considered 

 the scheme likely to prove a costly one and beyond the financial 

 resources of the colony. 



The establishment of a model farm was left in abeyance till 

 November, 1899, when it was taken up again by Sir William Mac- 

 Gregor, the next Governor of Lagos, who, in a despatch to the 

 Colonial OfficeJ with' reference to the subject in conjunction 

 with the botanic station, stated : " It appears to me somewhat 

 doubtful whether the finances of the Colony could bear the 

 continuance of this establishment (botanic station) concurrently 

 with the model farms. 



In view, however, of the clearly expressed opinion of Sir W. T. 

 Thiselton-Dyer that the botanic station should be maintained, 

 the vote has been continued. It is intended to establish a new 

 botanical station at some suitable place, as Ebute Metta is now 

 cut up by the railway. The spot selected will be, if possible, 

 contiguous to the model farm to be opened in Abeokuta territory, 

 so that the two Managers could assist or relieve each other." 



* Botanical Enterprise in West Africa, 1889-1901, p. 46. 



t Botanical Enterprise in W.Africa, 1889-1901, pp. 49, 50 and 51. Letter 

 to Colonial Office, Dec. 31st, 1897. 



X Botanical Enterprise in West Africa, 1889-1901, p. 159. 



