PART 11. nT 
by the presence of large treeless glades in heavy forest. The most 
interesting of these treeless zones is on Mount Kenya on soil which 
exhibits all the type characteristics of forest soil. This treeless area 
¢xtends, as far as could be ascertained in a hurried visit, up to the 
znnowline. 
In the grass and bush and grass lands most interesting variations 
in vegetation exist. The grass changes from one group to another 
group quite different in character; some of the changes being so sharp 
as to appear artificial. The species of tree change suddenly, in one 
case where the variations are especially interesting, from one of the 
Proteace to species of acacia. Here a soil change is also evident. 
There can be no doubt but that the vegetation is an indication of 
soil conditions, but what these conditions may be is at present a 
matter of mere conjecture. A great deal of work will have to be done, 
work which should be undertaken before these vegetal associations are 
lost to study. 
The results of this work will be of great value to agriculture and 
to science in general, but until there is in Kenya a staff large enough 
to undertake the investigation of such fundamental problems, while 
those of immediate application are still awaiting attack, this work will 
have to wait. Perhaps the broader aspects of this work as it appears 
to Fast Africa in general would be undertaken by the Amani Institute. 
Mr. SIMPSON thought that it was appropriate that they should 
open the proceedings with a discussion on soil problems. Mr. Beckley 
had given them something to think about. The value of a paper, such 
as the one just read, was very great because it made them realise what 
their problems were, but it was very difficult to get up and criticise 
it at once. In countries where the cost of manures must naturally 
be very great ‘they could not give too much attention to the 
consideration of their soil problems. Some manure was introduced 
into Uganda which cost them more in transport from Mombasa than 
the actual cost of the manure, so that it was very necessary for them 
to think out some method of keeping their soil in good condition by 
methods of cultivation, rotation of crops, and the growth of cover 
crops. It was interesting to hear that phosphates were deficient, and 
anything they could possibly do to keep up the amount of soil humus 
was very important. The question of humus brought them to the 
question of cover crops. In Uganda, they had plantations which had 
been under cultivation for some years, and there were cases where all 
the top soil had gone. It was going to be very difficult and a costly 
matter to get these soils into anything like crop carrying capacity. In 
conclusion, he would say that if the papers which were to be read were 
anything like the high standard of the paper just read they would be 
given much food for thought. 
Mr. KIRBY was interested that buckwheat should be suggested 
4s an intercrop in coffee. Among natives in Tanganyika Territory 
Eleusine, a plant of roughly similar habit, was grown sometimes with 
coffee with very damaging effect. Some explanation of this difference 
would be valuable. 
Mr. BECKLEY said that the effect might depend upon a 
difference in root habit. On one of the coffee plantations they would 
be visiting in a few days, buckwheat had been used for years past and 
had been most successful. It was one of the most interesting 
devnonstrations of this plant. 
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