83 



the returns for N. Nigeria, where it is quite possible that up to 

 the present time, considerably more cotton has been grown for 

 local use than for export. It is in the Northern Colony that 

 future expansion of the industry may be expected to occur ; the 

 climate and soil are eminently suitable, and when to these condi- 

 tions are added the improvements in methods of cultivation, 

 preparation and transport now in progress, there is reason to 

 anticipate that it may eventually be an industry of great 

 importance. The natural selection of the native cottons is likely 

 to lead to greater success than the acclimatisation of exotic 

 varieties, in both of which directions experiments are being con- 

 ducted by the Botanical Department at Oloke-Meji, and other 

 centres, and by the British Cotton Growing Association, on their 

 plantations at Lagos, &c. 



Under the Cotton Statistics Enactment of 1868, warehousers of 

 cotton at all ports in the United Kingdom make periodical returns 

 to the Board of Trade for general information. These statistics 

 are published weekly in the Board's Journal. The returns issued 

 on Jan. 2nd, 1908, show that 4,695,485 bales were imported into 

 the United Kingdom during 1907, the greater proportion (3,565,816) 

 being American, the remainder including Egyptian, East Indian, 

 Brazilian, and British Colonies. 



Statistics of the growing crop and final yield in the Cotton 

 States of America are provided by the United States Department 

 of Agriculture. From these guides abnormal states of the cotton 

 market can therefore usually be traced to the excess, shortage, or 

 absolute failure of some particular crop. 



The Botanical, Agricultural, and Commercial aspects of the 

 Cotton Industry have each been the subject of expert study and 

 have led to an extensive literature, most of it readily accessible. 

 The references now given may serve as guides to the more 

 important contributions. 



Bef. — "Gossypium barbadenee " in Med. PI. Bentley & Trimen, 

 1880, No. 37.— The Cotton Plant ; Its History, Botany, Chemistry, 

 Cultivation, Enemies, and Uses, prepared under the supervision 

 of Dr. A. C. True, United States Dept. of Agriculture, Bulletin 

 No. 33, 1896, pp. 1-433.— Kew Bulletin, Vegetable Fibres, Add. 

 Series ii. 1901, pp. 11-27. — "Cotton" ; containing information on 

 Cultivation, Distribution, and Varieties of Sea Island ; Improve- 

 ment by Seed Selection ; Agricultural Chemistry ; Fungoid 

 Diseases ; Insect Pests, &c, in West Indian Bulletin, iv. No. 3, 



1903, pp. 195-286 (Bowen & Sons, Bridgetown, Barbados, and 

 Dulau & Co., London). — " Sea Island Cotton in the United States 

 and the West Indies " ; containing information on Mission to 

 Cotton Districts of U.S. America ; Sea Islands of South Carolina ; 

 Sea Island Cotton on James Island ; Yield and Cost of Produc- 

 tion ; Cotton Ginneries in the United States and W. Indies ; 

 Recent Sales of West Indian Sea Island Cotton ; Cotton-oil 

 Factories ; Treatment of Cotton Seed for feeding purposes, &c, in 

 West Indian Bulletin iv. No. 1, 1904, p} . 287-374.— Report on 

 the Habits of the Kelep or Guatemalan Cotton-Boll-Weevil Ant, 

 Cook, Bureau of Entomology, U.S. Dept. of Agric. Bulletin No.49, 



1904, pp, 1-15. — Cotton Improvement, Sir G. Watt, in The West 



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