81 



kept for more than a few days before planting. If the seed is to 

 be stored for any considerable length of time, it might be advisable 

 to wash in pure water for ten minutes after taking from the 

 disinfectant solution. 



" The germination of the seeds, after disinfection for twenty 

 minutes, would appear to be in no way affected, and, in some 

 instances, germination has been somewhat hastened by the 

 soaking." (Agric. News, Barbados, 1907, p. 183, reprinted in Kew 

 Bull. 1907, p. 299). 



Stationary gins of large capacity are more economical than 

 small or portable gins. The bales should be carefully covered 

 with a good quality gunny cloth, and distinctly marked and 

 numbered ; the former to prevent loss in transit ; the latter to 

 prevent confusion in different lots arriving by the same steamer. 

 The size of the commercial bale varies considerably. The British 

 Cotton Growing Association ensure that their bales weigh 400 lb., 

 with a density of about 28 lbs. per cubic foot (Manchester 

 Guardian, 8th June, 1907). For dock charges, see Eriodendron 

 orientate. 



The seed is a valuable product. When cotton first came into 

 commerce the bulk of the seed was wasted, and some growers 

 were so improvident as to disregard its value as a fertilizer. It 

 yields on crushing a yellow oil largely used for soapmaking ; 

 when refined, it is used in the manufacture of oleo-margarine, 

 as a salad oil, and as a substitute for olive oil ; when bleached it 

 is used in the preparation of a substitute for lard. The cake 

 made from the seeds after the expression of the oil is a valuable 

 feeding material for cattle, as also is the meal mixed with the 

 hulls (about 20 per cent, of meal and 80 per cent, hulls). As a 

 fertilizer the refuse, after the oil has been extracted, is of especial 

 value, and wherever possible the oil should be expressed locally, 

 in conjunction with the ginning and baling operations, and the 

 refuse (meal and hulls) returned to the land either directly or 

 indirectly as manure from stock fed on the material. It is not 

 good husbandry to use the actual seed entirely for fertilizing 

 because the oil has little or no manurial value, and would only be 

 wasted, nor can the meal or hulls be effective without first being 

 reduced to humus, either by exposure or, as already indicated, by 

 feeding to stock. Machinery for crushing cotton seed was erected 

 at Lagos in 1906 (Brit. Cotton Assoc. Rep. No. 16, 1906, p. 29) and 

 may be expected to exercise an important influence on the 

 industry. 



The growing of other crops (catch crops) with cotton is perhaps 

 not a good practice, but rotation crops are essential. 



Ratooning, or treating cotton as a perennial, is not likely to be 

 satisfactory. The plants being very liable to fungous diseases and 

 insect pests, the ground ought to be thoroughly cleared after each 

 crop in order to reduce the risk of disease as much as possible. 



The cultivation of cotton in Nigeria, under the supervision of 

 Europeans, has received attention for many years. In 1811 (see 

 p. 34) experiments were undertaken, though with little success, 

 near the confluence of the Benue and the Niger. In 1856 'it is 



33385 F 



