Fibres. 



404 



[November, 1909. 



Dull, semi-rough, suitable as substitute 

 for Peruvian, staple irregular 1 to 

 sample too small for close valuation. 



Probably worth cultivating if fair 

 yield results. 



In a consignment of twenty bales of 

 Afifi clean cotton, grown at Mombrui by 

 natives, the following has been submit- 

 ted for report: — "Afifi character, clean 

 and free from stain, staple fair length, 

 and strong. It is a fair regular brown." 



These experiments therefore show that 

 Egyptian cotton gives most promise of 

 success. 



Development. — The history of the in- 

 dustry on the coast is one of steady, 

 continuous progress, as the table showing 

 the cotton export indicates. 



In the present year (1908) it comes well 

 to the front as the staple crop on the 

 districts of Malindi and Mombrui, and 

 promises to remain so if insect pests 

 can be kept in check. 



Important developments by Europeans 

 have occurred, and the progress recorded 

 in 1906 has been surpassed in 1907. 



Large areas of cotton have been grown, 

 and the industry is now established on 

 a permanent basis. 



The progress made in this country is 

 interesting, and the statistics of the 

 value of cotton and seed exported from 

 the Colony during the past three years 

 will show this. 



Native Cultivations.— So far as native 

 growing is concerned, the conclusion 

 forced on any practical observer is 

 that before the cultivation of Egyp- 

 tian cotton is put on a sound firm basis 

 and is extended, the standard of culti- 

 vation must be vastly improved and also 

 the causes which underlie this want of 

 system must be remedied. 



Apart from constant European super- 

 vision on the native shambas, it is con- 

 sidered that the publication of leaflets 

 in the vernacular and the establishing 

 of local shows would tend to remedy 

 the defects. 



So far as the work of the British East 

 Africa Corporation is concerned, it is 

 too well known to make it more than 

 necessary to merely mention it here. 



Almost every shamba holder in the 

 coast has been visited, and his land in- 

 spected and practical advise given on the 

 spot. 



On the Tana river special efforts have 

 been made to develop the industry, and 

 a hearty response has been given by 

 the natives, although the output this 

 year will not be large. 



Further efforts in this direction are 

 being made, and as the administration 

 extends its control, and consolidates 

 its influence, the natives will come to 

 understand Europeans and their methods 

 better and better, and thus help to ex- 

 tend development. 



In the district of Lamu there are at 

 present about 1,000 natives growing cot- 

 ton to about thirty last year, and the per- 

 centage in the Malindi district is much 

 larger. 



The question will naturally be ask- 

 ed — "Is Cotton Growing a source of 

 profit to the native," — and the answer is 

 unhesitatingly and emphatically in the 

 affirmative. From keen personal obser- 

 vation the writer has proved, crops, 

 such as Sim Sim, Matama, etc., do not 

 leave anything like the profit to the 

 native on the coast that cotton does, and 

 as improved methods of cultivation 

 take place and under favourable wea- 

 ther conditions, the native will produce 

 his cotton with greater economy and 

 probably with more profit than pre- 

 viously. 



At present, unless in the event of 

 total failure, the native stands on velvet. 



He is guaranteed a market and a 

 minimum price for his output, he is 

 helped financially and practical advice 

 given free of charge, and he is therefore 

 quite independent of what the fluctu- 

 ations of the home market may be— and 

 these have not been pleasant reading 

 recently. 



In April last the writer had the 

 honour of conducting His Excellency the 

 Governor over the British East Africa 

 Corporation's Malindi Ginning Factory, 

 and he then expressed his astonishment 

 and admiration at the development and 

 the work being carried on. 



Insect Pests. — Large quantities of 

 Paris Green were distributed in all 

 directions, free, with beneficial results. 



The cotton work can be readily held 

 in check by the use of Paris Green or 

 similar arsenical insecticide, and leaf 

 blister mite can be controlled by timely 

 hand picking of diseased leaves and 

 application of Sulphur and Lime to 

 affected plants. 



There is no doubt when cotton growers 

 become accustomed to the use of these 

 remedies and are favoured with more 

 propitious weather, attacks would be 

 much mitigated if not entirely sup- 

 pressed. 



Preparations have been made to hold 

 large supplies of sprayers, insecticides 

 and fungicides, in order to combat 

 disease in its initial stages. 



