(_Pennisetum_) crop, which is an early one, and not dependent on the rainfall after June, had received a normal amount of rain to that time, and was satisfactory; the stored supplies, as well as a second sowing, of this grain to some extent made up for the failure of the other. The above table has been made out from the meteorological reports obtained at Zaria town, and probably represents a fair average of the rainfall conditions pertaining to the cultivated country in the vicinity. The more northern district, of which Kano is the centre, is liable to smaller rainfall conditions than Zaria. A comparison can be made by reference to the table given below. TABLE SHOWING THE RAINFALL AT KANO FOR FOUR YEARS (1906 TO 1909) -----------+-------+-------+-------+------- Month. | 1906. | 1907. | 1908. | 1909. -----------+-------+-------+-------+------- January | nil | nil | nil | nil February | nil | nil | nil | nil March | nil | nil | ·54 | ·09 April | ·01 | ·10 | ·23 | 1·75 May | 3·24 | 1·77 | 1·16 | 8·7 June | 4·66 | 5·88 | 4·12 | 3·71 July | 8·75 | 3·90 | 10·24 | 9·01 August | 15·61 | 9·58 | 13·92 | 17·72 September | 4·66 | 3·57 | 4·63 | 6·83 October | ·87 | ·01 | ·02 | ·77 November | nil | nil | nil | nil December | nil | nil | nil | ·45 -----------+-------+-------+-------+------- Totals | 37·80 | 24·81 | 34·86 | 49·03 -----------+-------+-------+-------+------- The remarks made above serve to emphasise two points in connection with the densely populated districts of the north, the first being the necessity of cultivating larger areas to permit of surplus supplies being stored, and the second the requirement of quick transport to enable supplies to be brought in from the Niger valley in cases of urgent need. The first of these also indicates the necessity for the improvement of agricultural methods by the introduction of ploughing, the extension of irrigation and dry-season crops, and the better distribution of the population. The second—the supply of quick transport—is becoming rapidly established, by means of the railway and improved roads.