November, 1909.] 



REPORT ON PROGRESS OP COTTON 

 GROWING AT THE COAST. 



By T. H. Robertson. 



(Prom the Agricultural Journal of Brit- 

 ish East Africa, Vol. II., Part I., 

 April, 1909.) 



To describe in detail what has been 

 accomplished in the direction of the 

 development of Cotton Growing in 

 East Africa would entail an enormous 

 amount of labour, and serve no purpose, 

 and it is therefore intended to deal with 

 only the main facts. 



It is felt that a sensible stimulus has 

 been given to the Cotton Growing indus- 

 try, and in this connection the coast belt 

 has risen to the occasion in a very 

 marked manner. 



The Planters (Europeans) have been 

 urged not to be misguided by the pros- 

 pects of large profits, but in the words 

 of Sir Alfred Jones they have been 

 advised to work economically, work per- 

 fectly, and with close and careful study 

 of the plant and success is sure to 

 follow. 



It is a matter of regret that the climatic 

 conditions of 1907 were so unfavourable, 

 the rainfall was very short, and the 

 harsh cutting winds of October and Nov- 

 ember did an immense amount of damage 

 to the then maturing bolls, and as 

 these conditions prevailed right up to 

 Christmas and even into January and 

 February, the second pickings were 

 practically nil. 



During the fruiting periods short 

 heavy rains injured the bolls causing 

 many to tall to the ground. 



There seems no doubt, however, that 

 should the planters and natives show 

 the same enterprise and courage in the 

 future as they have done in the past, 

 cotton cultivation will become estab- 

 lished on the coast on the only possible 

 permanent basis— a remunerative busi- 

 ness to all cultivators. 



Early Difficulties. — The early difficul- 

 ties were very numerous and large sums 

 of money for educational work had 

 to be expended. 



A system of cultivation and other de- 

 tails gave much trouble, but the ex- 

 periments of the Department of Agri- 

 culture from the earliest days parti- 

 cularly fostered the industry and ren- 

 dered assistance in various ways. 

 51 



First Experiments.— The first experi- 

 ments with Cotton by the British East 

 Africa Corporation were carried out 

 last year. 



Several kinds were tried, including 

 varieties of Egyptian as well as one 

 variety of American. 



Samples of these cotton were submitted 

 for examination, and the following 

 reports show with what promise of 

 success : — 



No. 1. Abassi.— Grown on the British 

 East Africa Corporation's Experimental 

 Farm at Malindi, from seed imported 

 direct from Egypt. 



Area one acre, seed sown 24th April, 

 crop harvested up to 28th Febuary, 1908, 

 yield per acre 497 lbs. 



On ginning the sample yielded 32 per 

 cent, of clean cotton. 



The commercial experts reported that 

 the lint possessed all the characteristics 

 of abassi, was clean and good quality 

 but of somewhat short staple- 

 No. 2. APIPI.— Seed sown 26th April, 



1907, crop harvested up to 28th February, 



1908, yield per acre 580 lbs. 



On ginning the sample yielded 32 per 

 cent, of clean cotton. 



The commercial experts reported that 

 the cotton possessed the character of 

 brown Egyptain, slightly stained, staple 

 fair length and fine and soft to the 

 touch. 



No. 3. American Richmond.— Seed 

 sown 8th May. 1907, crop harvested up to 

 28th February, 1908. Yield per acre 486 

 lbs. 



On ginning out the sample yielded 28 

 per cent, clean cotton. 



Colour white, moderate staple, clean 

 and free from stain. 



No. 4. Sea Island. —Grown close to 

 Mombasa about 12 miles from the sea 

 and about 400 feet above the sea level. 



The British Cotton Growing Associ- 

 ation in writing stated that Sea Island 

 Cotton should not be grown on the 

 mainland away from the sea, and they 

 further reported that sample submitted 

 was deeply stained, staple soft, and to 

 a large extent perished. No use for Sea 

 Island purposes. Seed appears to be 

 perished. 



A further experiment was tried by 

 Mr. Davis of Malindi, on an isolated 

 patch of a variety named Payata, and 

 the following is the report of brokers :— 



403 



FIBRES. 



