(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.
The extension of irrigated crops can only be made in the vicinity of the larger rivers, or where good wells exist, and it may be found more expedient, therefore, that the inhabitants of the Niger, Benue, Kaduna, Gongola, and Gurara valleys should be urged to cultivate rice and maize under these conditions. The use of the land for two crops in each year would be made possible by the introduction of a leguminous crop as an intermediate, being sown later but in the same field with the irrigated crop, and being permitted to ripen, after the grain has been harvested, upon the stubble. A leguminous grain suitable for human food would be necessary in the river valleys where cattle are scarce, but a cattle food could be grown in the north where cattle are common, and where milk forms an important article of human consumption.
GUINEA CORN (Sorghum vulgare)—“Dawa” (Haussa), otherwise known as the Great or Indian Millet “Juar” (Hindustani), “Dhura” (Egyptian)—forms the most important food-grain of the inhabitants of the ultra-forest region of West Africa.
A large number of different varieties are recognised in Northern Nigeria, and are distinguished in the manner stated below. Most of these have a grain which is commonly used for human food, but at least two varieties are grown for other purposes.
The following list states the characters by which the various kinds can be determined from the appearance of the seed and form of the stem.