levels. Green-leafed types such as the Savoy, are to be preferred to the white- 

 hearted kinds from the nutritive point of view. Some types form good hearts 

 when grown from side shoots. 



The leaves are cooked for a side-dish and are very popular once the consumers 

 have become used to the characteristic flavour. In native practice the cooking 

 water is almost invariably retained, hence the product has rather a " strong " flavour 

 and needs the addition of groundnuts and if possible tomatoes to improve the taste. 



*78. B. oleracea L. var. acephala DC. Kale; Borecole. 



A cultigen of Europe ; there are a large number of kales which produce abundant 

 leaves along the length of the stem instead of forming a compact head. Four types 

 were tried out during 1940/42 at Mwera Hill as follows: — 



(a) Marrow -stemmed. A variety used in many countries as a cattle feed, 

 if left uncut it will grow to a height of about 5 ft. producing very thick stems 

 and abundant offshoots. 



(b) Thousand-headed. This type is also used as cattle feed. As its name 

 implies, it branches very freely but except for its thinner stems is scarcely 

 distinguishable from narrow stemmed kale. 



(c) Cottagers' kale. This is a smaller kind sometimes with purplish leaves, 

 often grown in European countries as a winter green stuff". It produces a 

 succession of soft good-flavoured leaves. 



{d) Scotch or curly kale. Another smaller kind only differing from 

 Cottagers' in the much crinkled appearance of the leaves. 



All types grow easily from cuttings, a valuable character from an African point 

 of view. All will survive with little care for several years and if kept well cut back 

 will continually produce new side shoots with young tender leaves. Types {a) 

 and (6) if left uncut form very large rank tasting leaves too tough for human 

 consumption. 



The young leaves of all kinds make a good side-dish with added groundnuts 

 and tomatoes. Older leaves need soda or potashes to soften them. As an indication 

 of their acceptance by the African, women came almost daily during 1941/42 from 

 considerable distances to exchange maize bran for the leaves. This was when other 

 kinds of side-dishes were very short during August to November in the Kota Kota 

 Hills. 



The kales do best at high elevations but with reasonable care can be made to 

 flourish down to Lake level. 



79. Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. (Euphorb.). 

 Mpasa (C), kapasa (C, fruits), msopa (Y), mlewezi (To). 



A tree growuig to 50 ft. with dense widely spreading head, branches occasionally 

 spiny, leaves are ovate, alternate, flowers small in axillary clusters appearing from 

 September-October, fruits small oval black berries, ripening in December to February. 

 Widespread in moister parts of lower mountain and plateau areas. 



The fruits are sweet with a taste similar to black currants, they are eaten mainly 

 by children. The timber is durable and the heart wood is said to be termite-resistant. 

 The wood is bronzy-brown, mottled of great lustre, suitable for fence posts and 

 furniture. The bark has medicinal properties and makes good charcoal. It is the 

 chief food and host plant both in Nigeria and Uganda of the wild silkworm and has 

 been cultivated for this purpose, grown either from seed or cuttings. The silk 

 yarn is brownish in colour and is woven mixed with cotton. 



Ref. 1; 9; 12; 14; 15; 16; 22; 26. 



27 



