- PART .V. 
7.6 million acres, mostly in the ‘‘ Highlands *’ (that is, country lying 
from 5,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level) which has been aside for 
alienation, and about 1.4 million acres included in the Coastal belt. 
In addition 1.9 million acres are held by the State as * Forest 
Reserves.” 
Both in the Native Reserves and the alienated area extensive 
areas of land of great fertility are to be found; land which, on account 
of its physical condition, is easily cultivated and made highly 
productive at comparatively little expense. A drought attended with 
serious consequences is seldom experienced—the adequacy of the 
rainfall coupled with abundance of sunshine for plant growth and crop 
harvesting creates a feeling of security in agricultural pursuits. It 
may be mentioned that it is wholly incorrect to say that the best land 
has been attached for European occupation. In the Kavirondo and 
Kikuyu Reserves and in other parts there are extensive areas of rich 
and highly productive land as fertile or more fertile than any held by 
Europeans. 
COMMUNICATIONS. 
Hxcept for a short bramch line from Nairobi to Thika the 
country has, until recently, been served by one railway line only, 
running from the Port of Mombasa to Kisumu on Lake Victoria and 
traversing practically the centre of the settled areas. 
During the last year the new line to Uganda, which serves the 
Uasin Gishu Plateau, and branch lines to Trans-Nzoia, Solai, and 
Nyeri have been opened for traffic. The construction of several other 
branch lines is now under consideration. Substantial progress has 
therefore been made in recent years to facilitate the marketing of 
crops and disabilities which previously existed are fast being removed. 
The roads of the Colony leave much to be desired and owing to 
the character of the soil and the rock formation heavy expenditure 
would be involved in constructing ‘‘ all weather *’ roads for heavy 
traffic. The larger rivers and swamps have been bridged and banked, 
and although iuconveniences may be suffered occasionally in the 
transport of produce and in locomotion generally it is not sufficient 
to hold up the business of the farm, and dry periods can be chosen 
for the movement of produce. The extensive use of motor cars and 
motor vehicles throughout the country is evidence that the roads, 
mostly ‘‘ earth »’ in character, may be negotiated during the greater 
part of the year. 
SETTLEMENT. 
Of the 72 million acres available, about 42 millions have been 
alienated to Europeans, and of this acreage about 4} million acres are 
already occupied, of which about 425,000 acres are under cultivation. 
The number of European owners and occupiers is about 1,800. The 
average area cultivated by each occupier is about 250 acres, but 
including the area developed for stock raising the acreage beneficially 
occupied is 1,400 acres per occupier on an average. 
Another figure of interest is the average amount realised per 
occupier for export products. It stands at £900. In addition there 
is the value of products sold locally. 
~The figures quoted above disclose a satisfactory position, one 
which will compare most favourably with the returns appertaining to 
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