THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
395 
Dec. r, 1897.] 
COFFEE PLANTING EXPERIENCE IN 
R.C. AFRICA. 
As, occasionally, misleading accounts of British 
Central Africa, and its prospects as a Coifee produc- 
ing country appear in ne;?spapers in various parts 
of the world, written in many irrstances by visitors 
who have merely passed through tire Shire High- 
lands, and gathered their opinions from more or less 
reliable sources ; we have for sometime past desired 
to obtain the actual experience oi some leading coffee 
planter irr the country, accompanied by accounts of 
expenditure and results which could bo thoroughly 
relied on^ 
Wo recently asked Mr. S. Israel of the Chipande 
Estate, (now also manager of the various estates of 
the firm of Buchanan Bros.) if he would be willing 
to supply us with such notes and accounts ; which 
he kindly consented to do ; and these we publish 
below. 
These are the actual experiences of a B. C. A. 
Coffee planter. 
Mr. S. Israel arrived in British Central Africa in 
June 1894. In July 1897 he had 180 acres planted, 
the first 60 of which brought him this year 20 tons 
of .coffee. He thus obtained a substantial return, 
three years and a month alter first reaching 
B. C. Africa. In Mr. Israel’s case a very large 
proportion of his expenditure has been incurred in 
erecting substaniial brick buildings, stores, sheds etc. 
all of which could have been, dispensed with by a 
planter anxious to expend as little as possible until 
his returns came in. 
The amount of expenditure in cultivation up to 
date is also, we think, considerably heavier than 
would be incurred by most B. C. A. planters on a 
plantation of similar size. 
In the face of statements we have recently seen, 
made by a correspondent of the Ceylon Observer, to 
the effect that B. C. Africa is no coffee country, 
poor soil, no successes, and so on, we are glad to 
be able to publish an .authentic statement of a 
practical planter’s experience in this country. The 
following is what Mr. Israel says : — 
“ Being led by your wish, and also being requested 
by friends at home to give a statement of my pro- 
gress in B. 0. A I have no hesitation in doing so’ 
— The enclosed Balance Sheet and Estimates will 
speak for themselves ; but I add the following ex- 
planatory notes. 
“ (1) The extent of my Estate is rather more 
then 500 acres, but this area is all r. quired for 
opening such a coffee Estate as my own. i purchased 
the land at less then Y/- an acre, but this being 
at least the present value of good coffee land so 
near to Blantyre I think I am justified in taking 
that figure as a basis. — ■ 
“ (2) To open up a Coffee Plantation, permanent 
buildings are not required, until success may be reason- 
ably expected. No valuation has been made by me for 
any temporary improvements nor has any labour or 
profit been taken into consideration chargeable or 
due to outside transactions. 
“ (3) The expense of transport of coffee to the 
river port is included in wages for garden labour, 
and the valuation of £70 per ton for well-cured 
coffee will not be above the value, probably less. 
(4) The valuation of coffee land opened up may be 
considered by some too much, by some too little, but 
to bring the returns into account, I consider it fair. 
In valuing the younger planted coifee at £3 per acre 
less I was guided by my intention to spend this 
sum per year on that portion of the laud. 
“ (5) The sum of £.540 expenditure per year, put 
down by mo allows for ail labour, and for the pur- 
chase of manure. 
“• (6) The expenses provide for thorough cultiva- 
tion of the soil ; and the returns exclude first maiden- 
crops which always have been stripped off the trees 
by me. 
“ (7) The estimate on returns of such coffee as 
has borne a iirst crop, I only put down for second 
bearing at one-.eight of the first year’s returns 
while in the third year, when the manure will act 
better, oecoiidaries on the trees being properly es- 
tablished, I anticipate a heavier return. 
“Altho-igh I have made a valuation of my own 
plantation I would remark that such a value is placed 
on it by me for the purposes of this estimate only, 
and that I would decline an oSer made at my own 
valuation. 
“Being one of the younger settlers of B.C. Africa 
I must take this opportunity to apologize to older 
pioneers, should they consider that 1 wish to lay 
down the law, as to how to make coffee planting 
a success. 
“ I only give my own opinion founded on my own 
experience, and I am confident that, by planting 
shade, and light ma,nuring, this country will hecemo 
one of the best, though possibly not one of the largest 
coffee producing countries of the world.’’ — S. Isuael. 
Balance Sheet. 
Chipande Estate, Shike Highland, s. B. C. A, 
Eroni May 1st 1893 to July 31st 1897-3 years 
and 3 months. 
Expenditure. 
To 500 Acres Land . . . . 
,, Wages for Garden Labour &c., to 
produce returns 
,, Tools 
,, Pulpsr and Pumps 
,, Nui'cery Plants bought 1st year, 
and Seed 
,, 80 head of Cattle .. . , 
,, Dwelling House 
,, Baskets and Mats 
, Permanent Buildings built of Bricks:- 
Graiu Store, Coflee Store, Cattle | 
Biarfor 100 head, 7 labourer’s Got- I 
tages. Compost Pit, &c., Ac. Ash C 
House J 
Brick Well and Vats 
,, Own Living Expenses 
Receipts. 
By Sale of Plants . . 
,, ,, Timber .. .. 
,, 28 tons Coffee (in Parchment) 1st 
Crop of GO acres delivered at Iliver 
Port, value 
Balance 
August 1st 1897. 
To 60 acres planted with Coffee 4 years 
old 20/7- 
,, 60 acres planted with Coffee 3 years 
old 17/-/- 
,, 60 acres planted with Coffee 2 years 
old 14/ /- 
,, 320 acres uncultivated laud 7/- 
,, Cattle . . . . . . 
,, Buildings 
,, Pnlper and Sundries 
A* 
s 
d 
175 
0 
0 
996 
17 
6 
75 
0 
0 
70 
0 
0 
85 
0 
0 
150 
0 
0 
90 
0 
0 
5 
0 
0 
650 
0 
0 
125 
0 
0 
200 
0 
0 
£2,621 
17 
6 
£ 
S 
cl 
25 
0 
0 
35 
0 
0 
1,400 
0 
0 
1,161 17 
6 
£2,621 17 
6 
PATE. 
£ 
s 
d 
1,200 
0 
0 
1,020 
0 
0 
820 
0 
0 
112 
0 
0 
250 
0 
0 
1,000 
0 
0 
98 
0 
0 
Total £4,5C0 0 0 
