84 PLANTING IN UGANDA 



used as a mulch to the Coffee. The effects of the 

 interplanting were well nigh disastrous. The 

 Coffee plants made very poor growth and bore 

 little, whilst in the dry season they became almost 

 leafless. On the lemon grass being uprooted, the 

 Coffee at once began to recover, and in the course 

 of a few months it entirely regained health. 



In one instance we have used cover plants to 

 some advantage amongst mature Cocoa which was 

 too widely planted. After the removal of the 

 banana shade, it was found that a great part of the 

 surface of the soil was subject to the direct rays of 

 the sun. This is detrimental to the soil, and also 

 to the Cocoa, which loves a shaded soil in which to 

 spread its fine surface roots. The field was sown 

 with the " Giant Bean" (Mucuna gigantea), 

 which creeps over the soil, and forms a thick 

 carpet of growth; and the Cocoa appeared to 

 derive some benefit from it. There was practi- 

 cally no diminution in cost of upkeep, as the 

 beans had to be carefully weeded, and had also to 

 be kept under control, to prevent them from 

 covering all the soil, or climbing the trees. Ground 

 nuts would serve the same purpose, but they do not 

 last as long in growth as the bean. There must 



