Abstract
AT a meeting of the Administrative Council of the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation held in Manchester on January 26, the director mentioned the extremely bad cotton season that had been experienced in Nyasaland. He said that information received by the Corporation indicated that the loss of crop has been caused to a large extent by insect pest damage, and if this is to be reduced effectively a close season for cotton of at least two months is a necessity. The Government is anxious to extend cotton growing on the Lilongwe Plateau. The Corporation's staff has pointed out, however, that the Plateau is at about the limit of altitude at whicK successful cotton-growing in Nyasaland is possible; it seems, therefore, that it would be wise to try cotton there on a small scale only, before any attempt is made at extensive production. A pest survey would also be needed as a preliminary in the adjacent area. The Director referred to the importance to the natives of Nyasaland of an economic crop as a means of restricting the present uncontrolled emigration of adult males into other countries in search of work, which is the cause of the breaking up of village life and much consequent poverty and distress.
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Cotton Growing Research. Nature 139, 501–502 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1038/139501c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/139501c0