the intending planter is satisfied to get away from 

 the Railway or take up land in one of the less 

 expensive districts, and give primary attention 

 during the first two or three years to growing 

 annual crops, gradually planting up with coffee as 

 increasing revenue from the farm permits. This is 

 much the better course for all but the really well-to- 

 do, as coflfee planting is an expensive branch of 

 farming, and unless one is provided with funds to 

 meet all and every demand while the estate is still 

 in the unproductive stage, it is best to aim at 

 making the farm pay its way in the shortest possible 

 time. A not uncommon mistake of the intending 

 coffee planter is to concentrate on a small area of 

 choice land for which he has to pay coffee land prices, 

 overlooking the fact that he must have land for the 

 grazing of his working oxen and for other purposes. 

 A more economical plan is to acquire a larger area 

 of which only a portion is suitable for coflfee. Such 

 land is generally obtainable at a proportionally less 

 price than small selected areas. 



SELECTING Altitude plays an important part in the selection 



THE RIGHT of land for coffee in the East African Highlands. 

 LAND. From 5,000 to 6,500 feet are considered the limits 



of suitable elevation. In well sheltered districts 

 coffee may grow at a higher altitude than 6,500, but 

 it yet remains to be seen whether it will prove 

 successful. An annual rainfall of between 35 and 

 60 inches is required. A good depth of soil is 

 essential; the land must be well drained and free 

 from stiff clays, and not too steep. Cleared forest 

 land is generally considered the best class of soil, it 

 being rich in humus, but in recent years coffee has 

 been planted in different districts on classes of soil 

 that hitherto were considered unsuitable, and has 

 made good gro-\vth. None of it has been sufficiently 

 long in bearing to prove whether such a policy is 

 sound. In selecting land for coffee, therefore, the 

 intending planter would be well advised to choose the 

 red or dark chocolate loamy soils that have proved 

 themselves. 



WINDBREAKS. In places exposed to strong winds, windbreaks 



are essential, and even in the case of well sheltered 

 areas it is generally advisable to protect the planta- 

 tion by a few rows of trees on the side of the prevail- 

 ing wind. Grevillea robusta has proved itself one of 



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