German East Africa in the middle of 1907. In Sep- 

 tember of that year the Germans stopped the export 

 of sisal bulbils by imposing an export tax. But our 

 Government had already a number of plants estab- 

 lished on their experimental farms, and with the help 

 of the sisal growing on Punda Milia they were soon 

 able to supply settlers with suckers for many projected 

 plantations. It is estimated that there are now 10,000 

 acres under sisal in the Highlands alone, and nearly 

 as much again at the Coast and in the Ivow Veldt. 

 There are still vast tracts of land suitable for sisal yet 

 awaiting development. 



SELECTIONS. When selecting a farm with a view to planting 



Sisal, it would be well to remember the following 

 points : — 



PLANTATION ^^ ^ tramway has to be laid through the whole 



3jYg_ plantation, steep hills and deep gullies should be 



avoided. The factory should be central and lower 



than the plantation, so that the full trucks can be run 



down by gravitation. 



A permanent stream of water is essential. This 

 does not mean that one requires a river on the farm; 

 a stream delivering one hundred thousand gallons per 

 hour in the dry season is ample. After the surround- 

 ing land has been under cultivation for a year or two, 

 the flow is increased. 



Electric power appears to be the most suitable 

 for a Sisal Factory. As British East Africa is well 

 provided with falls capable of developing power, the 

 prospective planter should endeavour to select land 

 with water power facilities. Otherwise charcoal, gas, 

 or steam will be required, and all of these will require 

 timber. Oil engines are used on some plantations, but 

 they would prove expensive if the plantation were any 

 distance from the railway. 



The cost of transport is about one shilling per ton 

 per mile, so that the nearer the estate is to the rail- 

 way, the better. 



The quality of labour is improving every year, 

 and this is enabhng estates to reduce the costs of 

 supervision. Sisal machinery is also being consider- 

 ably improved with this end in view. 



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