268 



LIL— NOTES ON FRUIT-GROWING IN THE EAST 



AFRICA PROTECTORATE. 



H, Powell. 



The pioneering of frmt-growfiig on systematic lines in the 

 early days of the East Africa Protectorate is largely due to the 

 late Eev. Stuart Watts, of the N'gomeni Mission Station, at 

 Mackakos, Ukamba Province. 



Here, for 20 years, Mr. Watts devoted a good deal of attention 

 to establishing what are popularly known in East Africa as 

 European fruit trees, such as apple, plum, peach, apricot, etc. 



Fruit trees were also introduced to N'gomeni from other 

 countries outside of Europe, and in the course of time, by means 

 of acclimatisation and selection, varieties of the several fruits 

 were established, best suited to the climatic conditions prevailing 

 at K'gomeni. 



Ever since the establishment of the Department of Agriculture 

 in 1903 the importance of fruit culture was recognised, and on 

 the founding of Experimental Stations at Mazeras and Kibos the 

 introduction, cultivation and distribution of improved varieties 

 of tropical fruit plants has been actively carried on. 



Similar attention is being given to temperate and sub-tropical 

 fruits at the Government Experimental Farm, Kabete. 



Settlers and private persons have also devoted, and are con- 

 tinuing to give, close attention to fruit culture throughout the 

 Protectorate, so that ultimately data will be obtained in regard 

 to soil and climatic conditions needed for the production of a 



great variety of fruit. 



Frequently intending settlers are desirous among other things 



of obtaining information regarding fruit growing in the Pro- 

 tectorate, and these ** Notes on Fruit Growing '* by one who 

 has had upwards of 10 years' experience in the subject in various 

 parts of the country may perhaps be useful and interesting. 



In an appendix a list is given of the fruits under trial on a 

 property known as Mbali Sana, in the Lumbwa District of the 

 Nyanza Province. 



Apple [Pyrus Mains). — Though fairly successful at N'gomeni, 

 apple-growing, judged from a European standpoint, cannot be 

 regarded as satisfactory, but as time goes on and the trees become 

 more acclimatised they may adapt themselves to local conditions 

 and better results be obtained. , 



Avocado Pear [Persea gratis sima). —-This , as is well-known, 

 has no affinity whatever with the ordinary pear. The tree grows 

 vigorously and produces huge crops of fruit at Parklands, a 

 suburb of Nairobi. Younger trees, but equally vigorous, are 

 established in the Kedong Talley, Naivasha Province, 



Apricot {Prunvs Armeniaca). — Small but good-flavoured 

 apricots are produced at N'gomeni in the Machakos Hills, but 

 although the tree grows vigorously at Nairobi and other high- 

 land districts, it is anything but a success from a fruiting point 

 of view. * 



