Notwithstanding, however, that coffee has as an ESTI- 

 reahsed the reasonable expectations of those who mate of 

 have studied and engaged in its production, a word coffee 

 of warning is necessary to those who think that it prospects. 

 is only necessary to plant up a hundred or two acres 

 of coffee in order to secure a rich competence for the 

 rest of one's days in this world. Coffee is not a 

 gold mine, figuratively speaking, as some people 

 seem to think. It is a sound agricultural proposi- 

 tion, and nothing more than that. It gives a hand- 

 some return on the capital invested and energy 

 expended, but when due allowance has been made 

 for all the risks involved, it is probably no more 

 attractive than several other branches of agriculture 

 in East Africa. 



The amount of capital required to engage in the capital 

 industry is dependent upon the intentions of the kkquired. 

 intending planter, and the qualifications of the man. 

 For the purposes of this essay it is assumed that he 

 is competent, after a short stay in the country 

 studying local conditions, to choose the right piece 

 of land for his purpose, that he has the innate ability 

 and the acquired experience to ensure wise adminis- 

 tration of his capital, and, of perhaps greatest im- 

 portance, that he has the physical and mental 

 qualifications of a successful agriculturalist. If he is 

 going in for coffee only, the selection of his land is 

 of paramount importance; whether he be engaging 

 in coffee planting only or in mixed farming with 

 coffee included, ability to spend his capital wisely 

 is an essential factor to success, as are also a 

 capacity for hard work, organising ability, a mind 

 capable of gauging the relative value of details, the 

 power of controlling labour of i>oor intelligence, 

 and an unfailing capacity for hard work. 



Five thousand pounds is generally considered making 

 the minimvmi required by one whose intention is to a start. 

 concentrate on coffee only. With this sum from 

 two to six hundred acres may be acquired in a 

 proven coffee district, of which in the case of the 

 minimum area practically all would be suitable for 

 coffee, and in the case of the latter the greater pro- 

 portion — leaving sufficient for working capital to 

 carry one along — assisted by the revenue from catch 

 crops — until the coffee had reached the producing 

 stage. A start can be made on much less, provided 



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