THE GROUND-NUT. 51 



Under ordinary field conditions 4 acres to the ton of 

 shelled nuts would be an average for Nyassaland, and 

 the following figures, taken from a 6|-acre block grown 

 at Namiwawa on unmanured land in 1915, show the cost 

 of production and value of the crop, the figures being 

 based on actual working expenses : 



COST OP PRODUCTION PER ACRE AKD VALUE OP CROP. 



s. d. 



One ploughing, . . . . . .28 



One cultivation, . . . . . .08 



One harrowing, . . . . . .04 



Three hand hoeings at 7|d., . . . . 1 10 



Harvesting and shelling, . . . 12 8 



18 2 



The total crop from 6J acres was 7,318 Ibs. of un- 

 shelled nuts, which on shelling gave 4,024 Ibs. of sound 

 shelled nuts, or a yield of 619 Ibs. of exportable kernels 

 per acre, and at 13 10s.* per ton represents a value 

 per acre of 3 14s. 6d. 



Experiments in the East Africa Protectorate with two 

 varieties of ground-nuts, Chinese and Shirati, gave 

 yields of 2,700 Ibs. and 2,600 Ibs. of nuts (in shell) per 

 acre respectively. In the latter case the crop was only 

 sown as a catch crop, and was planted too far apart for 

 profitable cultivation. 



The ground-nut, being less sensitive to climatic varia- 

 tions than cotton and much freer from disease, is worthy 

 of the attention of the larger land companies, who could, 

 if interested, encourage their tenants by distributing 

 selected seed and guaranteeing to purchase the crop 



* Average price on home market 1914. The price during 1917-18 rose 

 to 70 to 90 a ton. 



