222 PART TV. 
(5) That, as a result of his representations, cotton-growing has 
been forbidden by the Governments concerned in each of the areas in 
question. 
On the suggestion of Mr. Holm it was agreed: 
That each Department of Agriculture in South and East 
African territories should undertake to notify, without delay. 
every other such Department of the presence of a new disease or 
pest considered to be of economic importance. 
THE USE OF LOCAL INDIGENOUS PLANTS AS 
INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES. 
Mr. SMEE asked whether other delegates had had any experience 
in this connection. 
No information was forthcoming on this point, but the Section 
was of opinion: 
That a study should be made of the insecticidal properties 
of native plants. 
METHODS OF STORAGE OF NATIVE FOOD PRODUCTS. 
(Dealt with at joint meeting of Agricultural, Entomological, and 
Mycological Sections.) 
Mr. KIRBY had placed this item on the Agenda as he thought 
that every effort should be made to assist natives in their methods of 
storage, in order to provide against famine. He asked Mr. Ritchie 
to explain the details. 
Mr. RITCHIE read the following notes: Observations show that 
in Tanganyika the types of grain grown by the natives show a 
considerable resistance to attack by storage insects. 
In the Sorghums (Andropogon sorghum) the types grown fall into 
two classes, i.e., hard (with glumes not appressed to the grain) and 
soft (with glumes appressed to the grain). The latter are poor keepers 
and are grown by tribes living in round dwellings, with a grain store 
in the upper part of the dwelling. The smoke and heat of the cooking 
fire below keeps the grain ‘in condition. The hard grains keep almost 
indefinitely and are in especial favour by the Swahili, who has not the 
former means of maintaining the soft grain free from insects. Hard 
Sorghum is stored in wattle and daub barrels. These hard Sorghums, 
however, are more susceptible to head-smuts than the soft types, and 
take from six to seven months to come to maturity. Such quick 
maturing Sorghums as have been on trial, while maturing in from 
three to four months and showing resistance to head-smut, are very 
soft in grain and are quickly destroyed in storage by grain moth and 
grain weevil. They are also more susceptible to leaf-rust (Puccinia 
purpurea) than local types. There is a problem here for the plant 
breeder. 
The type of Bulrush Millet (Pennerctum typhordeum) grown in 
the Territory, when thoroughly sun dried and freed of adhering chaff, 
keeps extremely well in the same type of wattle and daub barrel. 
When. however. the grain is of uneven size. and not well cleaned,