Munchi Native 1-1·5 „ 8_d_. M.R.P. 9·1_d_. Ilorin American ·9-1·3 „ 6¼_d_. M.A. 6·39_d_. (M.A. indicates the price ruling at the time of valuation for standard “Middling American,” M.R.P. that for “Moderately Rough Peruvian,” and F.G.F.B. that for “Fully Good Fair Brown Egyptian.”) [Illustration: VILLAGE OF FOGOLA, BUILT OF GUINEA-CORN STALKS. Fig. 31. p. 126] [Illustration: OUTSIDE THE EMIR’S PALACE, KANO. Fig. 32, p. 137.] [Illustration: NEAR THE SOUTHERN GATE, ZARIA. Fig. 33, p. 137.] All the native cottons in the above table are from the Niger and Benue River Provinces, but it is considered probable that large quantities of the product, which are looked for for export, will be obtained from the Kano and Zaria Provinces, and after the opening of the Baro-Kano Railway, the capitals of these may become important cotton-buying and ginning centres. Figs. 32 and 33 illustrate views of Kano and Zaria. In all the localities referred to, cotton is generally cultivated as a sole crop, in succession to food crops, and is planted upon shallow ridges from July to September, when the cotton is ready for picking from December to March. Experiments have been made at Baro and Zungeru to raise plants during the dry months by irrigation, but as this causes the fruiting season to occur about the time that the first rain and wind storms commence, the success of this is very uncertain. The necessity for the application of irrigation to this crop is not apparent except as an assistance in lieu of rain when the season of rainfall is late. There is no extreme drought throughout the year, such as is the case in Egypt, where cotton is entirely an irrigated crop. In the Ilorin district, in the vicinity of Shari, a somewhat extensive area is seen under cotton, and the mode of planting is similar to that applied on a smaller scale near Rabba, Jebba, Bida, and Egga. A piece of land is usually selected for a cotton field upon which Guinea corn and millet crops have been grown continuously for a long period, and which has consequently become rather exhausted. This is often permitted to lie fallow for several years, after which cotton is planted in drills on ridges or mounds in July or August. No manure is applied. Generally about a dozen or more seeds are put in each drill, and in this way it is estimated that about a bushel and a half of seed per acre is required. Picking commences in December, and lasts until February, as much as 500 lbs. of seed-cotton per acre being frequently gathered.