August, 1912.] 



151 



industry which last year was cheeked 

 by a severe drought. 



West Indies. 

 There has been no great increase in 

 cultivation, chiefly due to the fall in 

 prices in 1911, though the market is now 

 better. The outlook for West Indies 

 cotton is hopeful, as the demand by 

 specimens for the best Sea Island is likely 

 to be steady, while it is not unlikely 

 that this variety will ultimately be 

 driven out of the States by the Boll 

 weevil. 



West Africa. 

 The crop suffered much owing to 

 damage by wind, but good results are 

 expected in 1912. The cotton has created 

 a market for itself and is readily sold 

 at good prices. 



Gold Coast. 

 Pioneer work is being maintained and 

 particular attention is being given to 

 the Northern Territories. The outcome 

 has so far not been of a promising nature. 



Lagos. 



The crop was reduced by wind-damage, 

 but the quality has improved. As an 

 encouragement a guarantee of lis. 8d. 

 per lb. for seed cotton has been given for 

 1912. It is expected that there will be an 

 appreciable increase in the ensuing crop. 



Southern Nigeria. 

 Work has been continued atlllshi with 

 only moderate results as far as quantity, 

 though the quality is most satisfactory. 

 Seed is being raised for distribution. 



Northern Nigeria. 

 No great results have been achieved 

 within the year, but the construction of 

 rail-roads and the improvement of water- 

 ways has brought a large part of the 

 country into economical touch with the 

 rest of the world. As the outlook is 

 promising, the Council have decided not 

 to curtail expenditure. It is expected 

 that the crop will very soon exceed 

 10,000 bales. 



British East Africa. 

 It is very doubtful whether cotton 

 under present conditions will prove a 

 success on the coast. Cultivation is ex- 



tending in the neighbourhood of Kisumu, 

 where a cotton of the Uganda type is 

 being raised. 



Uganda. 



There has been excellent progress here. 

 The estimated crop of 15,000 bales has 

 been exceeded by 4,000. This year crop 

 is expected to go up to 25,000 or 30,000 

 bales, and it is hoped that in a year or 

 two the yield will reach 50,000 bales. 

 The British Africa Corporation, which is 

 pushing the cotton industry, has effect- 

 ed much. 



Nyasaland. 

 The progress here is continued and 

 satisfactory and extension by European 

 planters has been considerable, while 

 among natives it has been even more 

 remarkable. The great difficulty is 

 transport, but that will soon disappear 

 as a result of the extension of the Shire 

 Highlands railway and the construction 

 of a new line from Beira to the Zambesi 

 and other similar projects. 



Rhodesia. 

 The result of an experiment in grow- 

 ing 200 acres in co-operation with the 

 British South Africa Company was not 

 quite satisfactory owing to labour diffi- 

 culties and damage by white ants, 

 though the cotton produced was good 

 and sold well. Experiments will be con- 

 tinued. There has been extension in 

 N. E. Rhodesia under the North Charter- 

 land Company, and prospects are good. 

 The Rhodesia Cotton Co.'s operations 

 have not proved a success. The connec- 

 tion by rail of Fort Jameson with the 

 Zambesi or Blantyre will facilitate fur- 

 ther progress. 



South Africa. 

 No great strides were made in 1911. 

 The result of cultivating the Caravonica 

 variety in Natal are reported to be 

 disappointing. 



Egypt and Soudan. 

 A deputation sent to the Soudan were 

 much impressed with cotton possibilities. 

 They are convinced that in the Anglo- 

 Egyptian Soudan there is one of the 

 very finest cotton-growing propositions 

 in the whole of the British Empire both 



