IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
Vol. VIII. No. 89. 
126 [May, 1902.] 
The formations occurring in the Welland County field are given in the following table : — 
Formation. 
Strata. 
Thickness. 
Depth. 
■ — ■ 
Corniferous 
Soil . , 
2 feet 
2 feet 
Dark grey limestone. 
23 feet 
25 feet 
Onondaga 
Grey and drab dolomites, 
black shales and gypsum 
390 feet 
415 feet 
Guelph and Ni- 
agara . 
Grey dolomites 
240 feet 
655 feet 
Niagara Shales . 
Blue Shales 
50 feet 
705 feet 
Clinton 
White crystalline lime- 
stone, shaly towards 
bottom 
30 feet 
735 fcet 
Medina . 
Red, blue and white sand- 
stones .... 
98 feet 
S3 3 feet 
Do. 
White sandstone 
13 feet 
846 feet 
Gas at 836 ft. 
In another well gas was not obtained from the Medina formation, but from the Trenton 
at a depth of 2,940 feet. The strata dip uniformly to the south and south-east at about 35 feet 
to the mile. Salt water is found in large quantities towards the middle of the Guelph and 
Niagara formation. According to the view of Mr. Eugene Coste the origin of this natural 
gas and petroleum is volcanic and not organic, and he states that he located the only two 
fields found in Ontario by mapping out the probable continuation of those fissured and 
fractured zones of the gas and oil fields of the United States, and lie considers that the fact 
that the occurrence of gas is not confined to certain strata another proof in favour of the 
volcanic theory, these porous strata being simply reservoirs into which emanations of gases and 
petroleum from below are poured. The strata of the Ontario fields belong to the Silurian 
system, those of the United States to the Lower Carboniferous or older formations, and the 
decomposition of organic remains of the Cambrian and Lower Silurian ages is quite inadequate 
to explain the production of the enormous quantities of petroleum and natural gas found, for 
instance, in the Trenton or Lower Silurian limestone of Ohio and Indiana. What is considered 
a direct proof of volcanic origin is the fact that pressure is always greater in the older forma- 
tions, showing that it is reduced by the friction caused in passing through the small fissures 
and pores of the rocks. The existence of the fields on the volcanic theory is explained as 
follows : That volcanic action is, and has been through all geological ages, shifting and 
intermittent along the fractured zones of the earth’s crust, and it is well known that these 
deposits are localized and accidental, as for instance in the state of Ohio, where so many wells 
have been drilled all over the State, it is only in a very limited area in the N. W. part that 
200 million barrels of oil and enormous quantities of gas have been produced during the last 
twelve years ; yet in many other counties of the State the same fossiliferous strata have been 
proved to be barren of hydro-carbon products. A final argument in favour of the volcanic 
theory is the analogy between the products of well-known volcanic emanations, such as 
fumaroles, solfataras, which consist largely of alkaline chlorides, hydrogen sulphide and 
hydro carbons, and those of different gas and oil fields. In association with the gas and oil 
there is found a bitter, salt water which is very often sulphurous. Sulphur also occurs in some 
of the oils and often in the natural gas as hydrogen sulphide. That of the Guelph dolomite 
of Point Abino, Welland County, has the following composition : — 
Hydrogen sulphide .... 74 per cent. 
Nitrogen ...... 2*69 ,, 
Hydrocarbons of the paraffin series . 96^57 ,, 
100*00 
The evidence appears conclusive that these mineral forms of carbon have been brought 
in their deposits, as most minerals have, under the influence of volcanic action. 
COTTON CULTIVATION IN TOGOLAND. 
Attention has already been directed in this Journal to the increasing interest in the 
exploitation of its colonies now shown in Germany, and some account of the various 
exploring expeditions organised by the German Colonial Economic Committee to improve 
the cultivation of various products ,and to introduce new staples into their colonial possessions, 
has been given (Imp. Inst. Journ., Vol. vin. p. 98). Among these expeditions is one having 
for its object the extension of cotton cultivation in Togoland, of which a report on I he work 
accomplished during the first year has now appeared as a special supplement to the 
Tropenpjlauzer for March, 1902. At the present time the cotton-spinning industry of 
Germany depends for its supplies of raw material principally upon the United States of 
America, the imports frern India and Egypt being comparatively insignificant, and this state 
of things is, in the opinion of German cotton-spinners, unsatisfactory, since the industry is 
always at the mercy of a foreign Government. The German Colonial Committee in 1900 
therefore proceeded to organize an expedition to proceed to Togoland, which was the most 
promising of the German colonies for the purpose, and carry out there a series of experiments 
on cotton cultivation. The money necessary for equipment and maintenance was obtained 
in the form of subscription from firms interested in the German cotton trade and in the 
development of the colony, but principally by means of a lottery promoted by the German 
Colonial Company. 
The leader of the expedition was Mr. James Galloway, formerly director of the cotton 
planting school of the Tuskegee Industrial Institute of Alabama, and lie took with 
him several graduates of this Institute who had had experience of cotton-farming in the 
United States. 
The expedition left Plamburg on November 21, 1900, and reached Lome, the capital 
of Togoland, on December 30 of that year, and immediately proceeded into the interior to 
select a suitable place for the experimental plantation, which was ultimately stationed at 
Tove-Djibe. About 100 acres of land were cleared with the help of natives, and attempts 
were made to plough the land in the usual manner, but great difficulty was experienced in 
maintaining horses and cattle owing to the ravages of the Tsetse fly. 
Cotton seed brought from the United States was planted at intervals of about a month 
from March to June, and grew on the whole very well. From June to August various sorts 
of native, American and Egyptian cotton were planted, for purposes of comparison. The 
climatic conditions up to July were satisfactory, but at that time heavy rains followed by fogs 
were experienced until November, when the weather improved considerably, and ultimately 
good crops were obtained from the plots sown in the late summer. 
Difficulties were also experienced in operating the gins for the extraction of the fibre, 
but eventually a power of the kind formerly used in Alabama was constructed and worked by 
24 natives in place of the usual 2 horses. Next year it is proposed to import a 10 horse- 
power locomobile to do this work. Altogether 23 bales of cotton were prepared, 13 from 
native seed, 9 from American, and x from Egyptian seed. 
The experiments have, of course, been in operation for too short a time to permit of 
conclusive results being obtained from them, but the report states that there is every prospect 
of cotton cultivation proving a successful industry in the colony, provided proper railway 
and market facilities are secured and the cultivation be carried on by modern methods. The 
chief recommendations offered by Mr. Galloway are that attempts be made to improve the 
hardier and better qualities of native cotton by crossing these with American plants. The 
former yield on an average rather less than 28 per cent, of fibre from each pod, whilst in 
America the yield is generally 33J per cent. , but apparently the native cotton is of better 
quality than can be raised from American seed in the colony. It is also suggested that a 
railway should be laid, connecting up the best centres for cotton plantations, that good roads 
should be made, and markets opened at various townships. The cost of cotton exported 
from the colony to Bremen is, on the present method of working, calculated to be ^,12. 15s. 
per bale of 500 lb., but with the introduction of steam power to work the gins and oil 
presses, this price would be reduced to £ 10. 5 s * P er bale, whilst if the productiveness of the 
cotton plant can be increased to 333- per cent, of the seed cotton the price can be reduced 
still further to £9. 10s. These latter values, it they can be realised, compare very favourably 
with the average price paid in Germany for cotton at present, which is about £11. 5s. 
per bale. 
Specimens of the cotton obtained in these experiments have been submitted for valuation 
to the Bremen Cotton Exchange, with the result that the native cotton was valued at £9. 10s. 
per bale, whilst that raised from American and Egyptian seed was appraised at from 15 to 
25 per cent. less, i.e. the cotton under present conditions is raised at a loss of at least £2. 5s. 
per bale. The experiments are, however, regarded as so satisfactory that an expedition has 
been fitted out to survey the colony, for the railway recommended by the cotton experts, 
the funds having been raised in the manner already described for the cotton expedition, 
whilst inducements are being offered to cotton farmers from Texas and Alabama to emigrate 
to Togoland. 
A number of English planters in the neighbouring colony of Lagos, following the 
example of the Germans, have also taken up cotton cultivation on a large scale, but so far no 
information as to their success or failure is available, but it is principally to secure advan- 
tageous competition with this source that the railway through Togoland is being so strongly 
advocated in Germany. 
IMPROVEMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA. 
The Provincial Governments of India have in recent years made great efforts to induce 
the native farmers to modernise their methods, and, with this end in view, have established 
experiment stations and schools of agriculture at convenient centres, where field experiments 
are carried on and students are initiated into the application of scientific methods to agri- 
cultural work. These efforts, however, do not so far appear to have met with the success 
they deserved, and in the North-Western Provinces it has been considered necessary to 
re-organize to some extent the work of the Agricultural Department and to establish a closer 
connection between it and the Court of Wards, whose officials control much of the 
agricultural work in these provinces. As one result of this concentration, it has been found, 
in the opinion of Mr. Moreland, Director of Land Records and Agriculture of the North- 
Western Provinces and Oudh, that much of the experimental work has been of too 
spasmodic a character to impress the native cultivator, who, at once conservative and 
poverty-stricken, is backward in imbibing new ideas, and loth to incur expenditure in 
applying them. The Director has now issued a pamphlet calling the attention of landowners 
to the help which they can give the Department in this work, and discussing seriatim the best 
methods of organizing schemes for agricultural improvement in the districts in which they 
possess influence with the native farmers. The gist of the Director’s suggestions on these 
various matters is given in the following paragraphs. 
The Introduction of New Crops. 
The improvement in quality of the various crops raised in the provinces, it is suggested, 
could be best brought about by the landowner or his manager growing special varieties at 
his own expense and submitting these to the inspection of farmers on the estates, who should 
then be induced, if possible, to undertake experiments with the new crops on their own 
ground, seed being supplied to them at a rate somewhat below the market value. A list of 
crops suitable for such experiments in the North-Western Provinces is given in the pamphlet, 
and includes such varieties as the 
JMuzzaffarnagar White Wheat , which has established for itself a reputation for fertility 
and drought- and rust-resisting qualities in Egypt and Australia. 
Oats . — Certain varieties imported from Canada and the Cape are recommended for 
cultivation in horse-breeding districts. 
Maize . — The Jaunpur variety is recommended in preference to any of those imported 
from America, since the latter have so far not done well in India. 
Juar (Great Millet). — Experiments with several varieties of this plant are now in 
progress, but at present it is impossible to recommend one in preference to another. 
Among other plants suggested for cultivation, but with which great care must be exercised, 
as they require more skilful management than is usually available in India, are potatoes, 
tobacco, and sugar cane. Experiments are also being undertaken by the Department on the 
cultivation of the Egyptian long-staple cotton, and it is now ready to advise cultivators with 
regard to this plant. 
Agricultural Implements. 
The substitution of modern implements for the crude apparatus now employed by the 
natives would do much to improve the position of the farmer in India. The Cawnpore 
experimental station is endeavouring to bring such a change about by lending, for demon- 
stration purposes, various machines, but the Director believes that more good would result 
from this work if competent men were in all cases sent with the implements in order to 
ensure the satisfactory working of the latter when brought under the notice of the farmers. 
Among the machinery to which special attention is directed are ploughs and water lifts, chain 
pumps, and self-emptying buckets, the three last being very important improvements in a 
country like India, where artificial irrigation is necessary. 
Utilization of Waste Lands. 
The waste land in India may be divided into three classes : usar, or alkali land, ravines, 
and bhur or sandy land. The utilization of soil impregated with alkali has been attempted 
with some success in the United States and in India. At the present time experiments are 
being carried out in the latter country on the cultivation of the “ babul ” tree, which affords 
good timber and a tanning material, on these alkali soils, but so far no definite results are 
available. The Agricultural Department is prepared to examine and give advice regarding 
the reclamation of such lands. 
With regard to ravines, a short description of the silt-trapping method of dividing up 
the ravine by the gradually accumulating silt carried down by the river is given, as well as 
of the method of terrace cultivation, which is the more satisfactory, but requires tlie outlay 
of a considerable amount of capital. 
The gradual utilization of bhur, or sandy soil, can only be successfully undertaken where 
a plentiful supply of organic manure is available, such as the drainage from a village. In 
certain districts in Oudh, excellent results have already been secured from waste land of this 
description by the application to it over considerable periods of such refuse matter. 
