Under the heading of position should be cou- an important 

 sidered another point, comparatively unimportant at considera- 

 the moment, but Ukely to be vital eventually. That tion. 

 is, the extent of land in the immediate neighbourhood 

 suitable for canes, and whether that area would be 

 sufficient to support a large modern factory in the 

 future. For it must never be forgotten that, should 

 cane growing attain to any important dimensions, 

 the inevitable tendency is towards a concentration 

 ro,und large factories that can be worked economically. 

 In such a case small, isolated plants would either 

 have to close down, or keep running only by making 

 raw sugar to be sold to the factories for refining. 



It should be mentioned that the Uba cane is atTHE uba 

 present being tried on several farms in Kikuyu and cane. 

 elsewhere, without irrigation, and at altitudes con- 

 siderably above 5,000 feet. None of these experi- 

 ments have so far reached the stage of actual tests 

 by milling. But I hear that the growth looks very 

 good. 



The following are some of the most important difficulties 

 difficulties to be considered by an intending planter : to be con- 

 sidered. 



As already pointed out, reliable figures as to 

 yield are very scarce, and at present only apply to 

 one area. Skilled workmen for the factory are en- 

 tirely absent. If good results are to be uniformly 

 obtained the most careful personal supervision is 

 necessary in the factory. Where water power is not 

 available the next best is steam power, as the waste 

 steam can be used in the various evaporating arrange- 

 ments. But the use of a steam engine will involve 

 the employment of an expensive engineer, and extra 

 expense for fuel probably. Any other power but 

 water will considerably increase the capital expendi- 

 ture on machinery. At present it is difficult to gez 

 any considerable supply of cuttings to plant out, 

 even of the Native varieties. In any case the ques- 

 tion of the supply of cuttings is quite a serious 

 problem, as it takes about 10 tons of tops to plant 

 up an acre. 



Up till a few months ago the Native trade was the native 

 large and rapidly increasing, and gave an outlet for trade. 

 one's worst produce at a useful price. But in this 

 -district the Government has recently put a stop to 



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