NAIROBI EXPERIMENTAL FARM, 

 KABETE. 



FOUNDATION. 



T^HE Kabete Experimental Farm was selected in 

 1907 by a Board of practical settlers and agri- 

 cultural officials in place of the original Experimental 

 Farm adjoining Muthaiga, where the soil was mostly 

 of an iron stone formation, variable in quality and 

 depth, and not representative of the arable land in the 

 Kyambu, Kikuyu, and Limuru districts lying to the 

 north and west; neither was it representative of the 

 large grazing- area to the south and east. On the other 

 hand the Kabete Farm, which is situated on the 

 border of the Kikuyu Reserve, is representative of the 

 surrounding farms, and is 1,250 acres in extent. 

 The Railway line some six miles west of Nairobi 

 forms its south western boundary, and the Katisura 

 (a permanent stream) its north eastern boundary. 

 It thus occupies a convenient site and is readily 

 accessible by either road or rail. 



PURPOSES The purposes of the farm are : — 



OF THE (a) To acertain what crops are most suited to 



FARM. surrounding localities. 



(b) To demonstrate the cultivation and manur- 

 ing of crops, fruit trees, etc. 



(c) To ascertain what stock do best : to 

 establish pure breeds of cattle and pigs for the 

 use and benefit of settlers, and so help forward the 

 development of agriculture. 



WATER 

 SUPPLY. 



HOMESTEAD. 



The farm is well watered. Besides the boundary 

 stream, another small stream runs through the centre, 

 which is fed b_v several springs. The main spring 

 has a capacity of 40,000 gallons per 24 hours of pure 

 water, very suitable for livestock and household pur- 

 poses, and varies little in its flow throughout the year. 

 The boundary stream has been tapped about two miles 

 further up, and by means of a furrow water is con- 

 veyed to the farm for irrigation and other purposes. 



A large stone building has been erected and forms 

 the centre piece of a proposed extensive steading, the 

 building of which will be proceeded with according 

 to plan when funds are available. Stone piggeries 

 are already provided, but the cattle sheds and stock 

 yards are, so far, temporary erections. Houses foi" 



128 



