390 



[November, 1912. 



The prospects were encouraging in November aud December as the 

 seasonable rains gave on a whole an even stand ot young plants, but as 

 the season continued the weather remained dull and sunless with the 

 result that many of the flowers became diseased and shed leaving the 

 trees practically without fruit. The damage was increased by insect 

 attack the most formidale pests of the season being boll-worms and 

 aphis; under such conditions it is not a surprise that there was a tmall 

 percentage of first grade cotton. 



The cotton exported amounted to 3,392 bales of 400 lbs. lint a3 

 against 4,342 in the previous year and the acreage under European culti- 

 vation was 23,332 as compared with 12,752 in 1910-11. The failure of last 

 season's crop and the scarcity of labour discouraged European planters 

 from excending their cotton acreages. The crop now approaching harvest 

 covers an area of 24,155 acres, which is only 823 acres more than in the year 

 under review. 



The best Nyasaland cotton had a steady demand from 7'25d. to 8-o0d : 

 second quality selling at the prevailing American " Midland" prices of 5d. 

 to 6'50d. per lb. 



The continuous carrying out of seed selection on all estates is worthy 

 of most seiious endeavours as it is the only way to maintain and improve 

 the quality of local cotton. While selecting we should try to get as much 

 cotton as possible with a staple of 1" or over ; as shorter staple of 1" to 1" 

 may make a difference of fd to Id per lb; strength and lustre should 

 also be selected for, the higher the lint percentage, the more profit- 

 able the crop. 



" When in Manchester I was requested to draw attention to the un- 

 desirability of putting up cotton in small bales," says the Director of 

 Agriculture of the Nyasaland Protectorate "as apart from the extra 

 expense of canvas and transport, planters on the average lost jd. to 

 id. per lb. when the cotton was sold, as similar cotton packed in standard 

 bales of 400 lbs- always sold better than cotton in small bales;" and 

 in another paragraph he remarks that he understands the British 

 Cotton Growing Association re-bale and compress cotton, using planters' 

 own canvas from the small bales, at £2 2s. 6d. per ton and, supposing 

 an increase of jd. per lb. is received for the cotton, as the result of re- 

 baling, the transaction is profitable as in addition there is a considerable 

 saving in freight. 



In spite of the adverse climatic conditions the industry continues to 

 increase in popularity with the natives, and the returns for the year show 

 a satisfactory increase of 270 tons seed cotton. 



The following figures show the progress of the native cotton industry 

 from the year 1908-9 :- 



Tons seed 

 cotton. 



Bales of 400 lbs. lint 

 (27% of seed cotton. 



1908/9 

 1909/10 

 1910/11 

 1911/12 



130 



220 

 692 

 902 



190 

 332 

 1,046 

 1,454 



