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2k.95. Rock phosphate is obtainable f rom Abeokuta.In contrast to superphosphate it has little effect oncrop yields on the near-neutral soils of the North. itweos hoped that it might prove effective on the acotl sandsof tho Eastern Pr&vinces cr when used in the preparationof composts. Further experiments in this respect areneeded. In early experiments on Eastern soils it had nodirect effect on millet yields but increased the growthof a Mucuna cover which itself stepped up yields when dugin,,96. The issue cf imported artificial manures topeasant farmers has been generally condemned on the groundthat they are not economic. The c^Sts of manuring wittjartificials relative to the costs of mixed farming andgreen manuring need thorough investigation. " There wereindications before the war that the use of artificialsw,o>uid pay handsomely in intensive agriculture in the GoldCoast. Shallot growers in the Keta area we/re paying£ 1 , 1 3 . 6d,' per ton for dried cow-dung and 0i|.1O/- per tonfor bat guano ; the valuations cf these manures in fertiliserunits were respectively 12/3d> and £3. 5/- per ton.Comparative trials with local organic manures (cow-dungand fish meal) and artificials showed 0939) that an extraexpenditure of £1 9* 6 d r on artificials brought in anincreased return of £10. 5/-. (The manures were valuedat cost delivered to the field j - Sulphate of ammonia18/- s Sulphate of potash 2h/- : Superphosphate 1c/6d.per cwt.)o97. Fertiliser trials "in the Gold Coast have beenregrettably few, With the higher prices prevalent forfoods'tuffs, artificials make a better financial shewingthan in Nigeria, where only the more spectacular resultshave been published in terms of pounds, shillings and pencee.g. an application cf \ cwt. per acre of ammonium sulphateto early maize at Ibadan (BiiW) in 193d gave an increment(jf U70 lbs. . dry gra in over an urmanured yield of 1,000 lbs.Per acre. Cost of manure (landed Lagos) = 3 / 9 d . Valueof 470 lbs. maize (3/6d. per'cwt.) = til/-. Translatedinto present &old Coast prices this would read ;- Costof manure (landed Accra) = 9/-> Value of U70 lbs. maize(13/- per cwt.) m 52/-.98. The cost of transporting manures to the farmsoften exceeds their landed cost. Subsidies in respect oftransport might well be granted in racpoot of areas in theEastern Provinces of Nigeria and in the Krobo District ofthe Gold Coast where extensive trials are most urgentlyneeded. Whether the import of fertilisers should be subsidisedby an export tax on oil-seeds is a question worthserious consideration if preliminary trials are foundsuccessful.COMPOSTS.99. Under primitive conditions plant wastes findtheir way to the soil as ashes, whilst faeces' and urinestay close to the surface in or around the compound, whichis of markedly higher fertility than the rest of the farmin districts such as Mamprusi, Under the system of sanitationnow practised in urban areas excrement is usuallyburied /