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Item Shade Trees in Uganda and Their Relation to the Cultivation of Coffee and Tea(January 1940) Thomas, A.S.; Department of Agriculture UgandaIt is shown that in most cases coffee does better under shade and it is, of course, a forest plant in nature. The type of shade preferred is that which is evenly distributed and with branches high above the tops of the coffee bushes. Shade trees should be grown in succession or in mixture. When these have to be thinned out-for close planting at first is obviously necessary-the trees can be ringed instead of felled; the tree then dies as it stands, disintegrates gradually and no harm is done to the bushes below. The practice also reduces root disease risks, since Armillaria mellea will not attack roots deficient in starch. In selecting shade trees many varieties otherwise suitable are put out of competition on account of their strong surface rooting system competing with the coffee roots. Erythrina abyssinica is suggested as a likely shade tree since it succeeds in conditions too dry for many other shade trees, is easily established from large woody cuttings and is well adapted to pollarding. A list is given of local trees under which coffee will flourish; these should be retained when land is being cleared for planting. Most useful of all are various Ficus especially F. Thonningii. They can be grown in the position required from large cuttings and besides supplying shade can provide additional income to the peasant as a source of bark cloth. Of exotic trees Hevea brasiliensis is a useful shade for robusta coffee in Uganda where its growth is not so vigourous as in a really tropical climate; if the price of rubber rose the tree could be tapped. A number of other non-indigenous trees used for shade in other countries are discussed. Tea requires no shade but needs windbreak protection from drying winds which spoil the flush. Grevillea robusta is suggested since it casts little shade.
