408 The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



THE W AX PALM TREE. 



4 PROMISING TROPICAL CULTIVATION* 



SEEDS we supply as follows :— 



1. 75 seeds on receipt of 7s. 6«f. by sample post, under registration, postage paid. 



2. 10 lbs. net on receipt of £4 by parcel post, postage paid to all countries. 



3. 70 lbs. net at 7s» £d* per lb. on receipt of £26 5s. 



4. i 40 lbs. net at 7s. per lb. on receipt of £49. 



Carefully packed, prices net cash, including freight to direct ports. All Orders 

 must be accompanied by remittances (Post Office Orders or Cheques) to cover 

 the amount of invoice. 



Orders please forward through European correspondents or direct to us. 



The WAX PALM TREE {Copernicia cerifera) produces an aromatic wax, 

 which is exported in thousands of tons to all the leading markets of the world. 



The cultivation of this palm tree, which accommodates itself easily for climate 

 and soil, is expected to yield high profits. 



Gevekoht & Wedekind 



Hamburg 1. 



Telegraphic-Address : " Gevekint? HambuVg£ 

 :: A. B. C. Code 5th Edition. :: 



MANAGEMENT OF PLANTATIONS 

 IN UGANDA. 



MANY MORE PLANTERS WANTED. 

 To the Editor, The Field, Oct. 19.) 

 Sir, — The old question is always repeating 

 itself — what to do with our sons ? Most of the 

 professions are so choked that any opportunity 

 of obtaining lucrative posts is remote. There is 

 one branch which, to my mind, always appears 

 neglected, and that is the management of plan- 

 tations. We here in Uganda are at our wits' 

 end to find suitable managers. We are planting 

 out very large areas of land under coffee, rubber, 

 cocoa, and perhaps tea. The country is healthy 

 as a whole. Naturally one gets fever sometimes, 

 bnt there is no need to be afraid, as, providing 

 ordinary care is taken, very little sickness need 

 be suffered. 



True, we are able to get men of a sort here, but 

 the material is very unsuitable, being mostly 

 drawn from the uneducated classes in our sister 

 and other colonies. What we want is the public 

 schoolboy with his higher education. Of course, 

 he must not expect an appointment as manager, 

 or even assistant manager, as soon as he gets out. 

 The new-comer is of no use for at least six 

 months, as he knows nothing of the country, its 

 language, or the management of natives. It 

 will take him from eighteen months to two years 

 to become really competent to act as assistant 

 manager of a plantation. He should have a 

 rudimentary knowledge of engineering, horti- 



culture, and agriculture, and also a speaking ac- 

 quaintanceship with chemistry. Naturally a 

 great deal can be done by reading, but practical 

 knowledge is what is wanted. W T e have had too 

 much experience of so-called experts — experts 

 in everything but their special subject. 



Well, after the pupil has passed through his 

 apprenticeship of t., o years (in my opinion this 

 period is not at all too long), he will be able to 

 take up the position of assistant manager with a 

 salary of not less than £350 per annum, with 

 house, fuel, &c. After, say, another two years 

 (of course, according to circumstances) he will 

 probably find himself in the position of manager, 

 with a salary of at least £500 per annum, rising 

 according to the size of the estate to £1,000 and 

 over, with possibly a percentage of the profits 

 of the estate. Estate managers at present re- 

 ceive £600 and upwards. 



These prospects, combined with the social life 

 in Uganda and the opportunities of big game 

 shooting during the local leave month is granted, 

 render the life most attractive. Beside estate 

 management, there will be many opportunities 

 for estate surveyors and engineers— mechanical, 

 electrical and irrigation— who will all find good 

 openings at remunerative salaries. I would 

 estimate the number of estates at present being 

 opened at more than fifty, of which number at 

 least forty will require managers within the next 

 two years. I myself have eight estates of my 

 own, beside ten which 1 am developing for 

 other people— friends, &c, 



