458 



described and the conclusions arc based on the results of numerous 

 experiments ; it is, therefore, of the greatest importance not only be- 

 cause it throws so much light on the cacao diseases of the West 

 Indies, but because it concerns all cacao-producing countries of the 

 world. 



Keith Bancroft, 



Assistant Mycologist, 

 to the 



Federated Malay States. 



PROGRESS IN UGANDA. 



The report of the Botanical Forestry and Scientific Department 

 of Uganda for the year ending March 31, 1909, is published as an 

 annual report, and shows a good deal of energy has been expended 

 and good work done. The staff of Europeans is a large one, contrast- 

 ing very favourably with that of many of the colonies of the Empire. 

 Besides Mr. Dawe, the Director, there is one assistant, one Inspector 

 and five assistants to deal with cotton, and one entomologist, be- 

 sides several overseers of outlying experimental stations. A big 

 exhibition of many thousand exhibits was held at Kampala which 

 seems to have been a success. 



All kinds of useful plants are being cultivated by the department, 

 though cotton is the most important from all points of view. Para 

 rubber is being grown with success and though most of the trees are 

 young tapping experiments v,^ere made. The yields, however, seem 

 small, and tapping can apparently be carried on for 8 months only, 

 commencing in the wet season. The growth of the trees, however, is 

 not below the average, the oldest tree, 7^ years old, measures 42H 

 feet in height and 30 inches in girth. It increased in height 5 feet 9^ 

 inches, and in girth inches in the year. 



Castilloa is attacked by a borer, and does not promise so well. 



Cocoa is being taken up by settlers. Coffee crops well and 

 heavily, but a new leaf disease. Collet otrickum Cojfeoc, destroyed one 

 plantation. Its attacks, however, were defeated by Bordeaux mixture. 

 Wheat and rice and lemon-grass are successfully worked. Much 

 attention is paid to the cotton industry and the outturn of ginned 

 cotton has risen from 858 cwts. in 1905-6 to 14,087 in 1908-9. There 

 is much too little cotton ground in the Empire for the need of the 

 country so that it is of the greatest importance that areas in which 

 cotton can be successfully grown should be developed to their utmost. 

 It is well suited too to the native population, and is quite the thing 

 for a country with a large native population, and considering the large 

 and increasing area under rubber at the present time is of more 

 importance to the Empire than that popular plant.— Ed. 



