The agricultural and forest products of British West Africa

A thorough survey of the tropical resources of British West Africa, this handbook offers a clear picture of the region’s agricultural and forest wealth as seen through the eyes of an experienced agronomist. Updated after the disruptions of the Great War, it reflects the latest knowledge and the new priorities that have emerged for the colonies.

The text walks listeners through the most important cash crops—cotton, oil palm, rubber, and cocoa—detailing how recent improvements in seed selection, processing methods, and plantation management have boosted yields. It also touches on a range of secondary products such as cinchona bark, cinnamon, tobacco and various fibers, while examining the challenges of competing with emerging producers in the Dutch East Indies and Malaya.

Beyond commercial prospects, the work stresses the pressing need to expand food‑crop production to sustain local populations and the importance of better‑trained agricultural staff and engaged merchants. It remains a valuable reference for anyone interested in the economic and ecological landscape of early‑20th‑century West Africa.