186 
It is reported that three main types of Coffee are grown in 
the Protectorate. These are, in relative order, two varieties of 
Coffea arabica, known respectively as “‘ Nyasa ’’ and “ Bourbon,” 
and Coffea robusta, which is apparently indigenous to Uganda in 
the regions bordering on the Congo. The “ Nyasa” variety is 
indistinguishable from that grown in Costa Rica. Of the arabica 
varieties, “‘Nyasa’’ seems to prosper best in the lower and 
warmer regions and “ Bourbon ” in the higher and cooler areas. 
Robusta, again, thrives in almost any situation where coffee is 
grown, but it is especially suited to lower elevations, and would 
prove an economic crop when the others would fail (Lankester, 
p- 5). The selection is left to individual preference, but of the 
two varieties of arabica ‘‘ where shade is not advisable ” ‘‘ Bour- 
bon ” is considered to offer the greater number of advantages, 
including that of being a precocious cropper. The two forms are 
said to have hybridised very extensively ; the constant distinguish- 
ing features of the two original forms are said to lie in the colour 
of the young terminal leaves. In ‘“ Bourbon” they are a very 
pure bright green, in “ Nyasa” more or less bronze or copper- 
coloured, the latter being the dominant type (id. p. 6). In 
connection with the desirability of cultivating one special variety 
Lankester states that “‘ the London Brokers indicate a preference 
for Coffee of ‘ Bourbon ’ type owing to good liquoring qualities.” 
_ In the opinion of the Coffee Expert to Messrs. Lewis & Peat 
(London) “ Bourbon Coffee, as grown in Nyasaland, is a desirable 
commercial form and worth growing where others will not suc- 
ceed.” “ The great majority of estates are interplanted with Para 
Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and coffee has proved of great service 
in bridging over the long wait till the rubber comes into produc- 
tion. Several estates, however, show that coffee may be a perman- 
ent crop, and yields of 5 cwt. clean coffee to the acre have been 
averaged. The soil is fertile, as evidenced by the fine ‘ Mvuli’? 
trees, but light and sandy in texture, and very subject to wash 
on the least slope. Sugar cane and Tobacco, it is suggested, 
may prove profitable alternatives. Labour shortage has been 
advanced as a reason for the abandonment of estates or restriction 
of areas. Coffee under ‘ Mvuli’ shade, even on abandoned estates, 
always looks well and carries an apparently productive amount 
of cherry ” (2d. p. 4). 
The area under coffee in 1920 was 25,437 acres, and it is 
explained that “ the area of some 7,000 acres formerly in cultiva- 
tion under Para can be discounted now as having been shaded 
out, and probably some 8,000 to 10,000 acres have been abandoned, 
owing to currency adjustments, restrictions of credit, and, in 
some cases, labour difficulties, leaving approximately 15,000 acres 
at present in cultivation. The amount of native production is 
negligible ” (id. p. 3). The total acreage of Para Rubber under 
European management in Uganda (1921) was approximately 
17,000 acres, about 9,500 being under 5 years old and 7,500 over 
1 Chlorophora excelsa. 
