290 EXISTING SETTLERS 



thing like the importance of the large Zambezi 

 Sugar Companies, it wiU fulfil a most desirable 

 mission in affording further demonstration of the 

 value of the rich soil through which the waters of 

 the Zambezi flow. 1 have passed its headquarters 

 recently, but, unhappily, had no time to land there ; 

 the appearance on the river-bank of the Shir^ at 

 Bompona of powerful pumping plant, however, 

 evidenced the earnest commencement of important 

 work. 



On the summit of the splendid plateau of neigh- 

 bouring Mount Morambala, a large coffee plantation 

 has been established, which I understand to have 

 given moderately satisfactory results. Further 

 experiments are now in progress, however, with a 

 view to ascertaining whether a more sheltered 

 position may not prove better adapted to the 

 growth of this shrub. 



The principles usually followed in the cultivation 

 of the coffee berry are more or less as follows. The 

 ground having been selected and cleared of grass 

 and undergrowth, as many large, well-grown trees 

 as possible being spared for the advantage afforded 

 by their shade from sun and wind, the debris of 

 bush is collected and burned, the ashes being spread 

 over the soil so as to mingle as much as possible 

 with it. The future plantation is now carefully 

 marked off and " pitted," that is to say, at a distance 

 of seven or eight feet apart, rows of holes or pits are 

 dug, eighteen inches wide and of similar depth. 

 These are left open for a couple of months or so to 

 harden the earth crust round the inside, and are 

 then filled in with earth enriched with manure if 



