As cultivated in our itoves, the Coffee-tree, if allowed fuffi- 

 cient fpace, makes a very handfome evergreen fhrub, and will 

 both flower and ripen its fruit. The flowers, which are very 

 fweet-fcented, efpecially after fun-fet, are fo like thofe of 

 jalmin that it is not furprifing that botanifts mould at firft have 

 conlidered this tree as belonging to the fame genus. 



Coffee had been imported into every part of Europe, and 

 ufed as a favourite beverage, long before it was known of what 

 plant it was the product. Profper Alpinus had feen the Coffee- 

 tree, without fructification, in ibme gardens in Egypt; but the 

 firit intelligent botanical account was publifhed by Ant. de 

 Jussieu, in the memoirs of the Academy of Sciences in Paris 

 in 1713. It was introduced to Europe by means of Wits en, 

 a Burgomalter of Amfierdam and Chairman of the Dutch Eall- 

 Inriia Company, who gave directions to the governor of Batavia 

 to procure feeds from Mocha in Arabia Felix. Thefe being 

 fown in the Hland of Java, feveral plants were produced, and 

 one was tranlmitted to Witsen about the year 1690, who pre- 

 fented it to the botanic garden at Amsterdam, of which he had 

 been the founder. From the progeny of this plant, not only the 

 principal botanic gardens in Europe, but alfo the Weft- India 

 Iflands, were iupplied with this interefting tree. Within fix 

 years after its introduction into Holland, it appears to have been 

 cultivated by Bifhop Compton at Fulham. 



Much has been written upon the effects of Coffee on the 

 conftitution, which by fome are confidered as highly falutary, 

 and by others as very injurious. There is no poffibility of 

 reconciling accounts fo contrary ; but doubtlefs the effects are 

 various upon different perfons. One fource of difference has 

 not been fufficiently attended to, which is the mode of pre- 

 paring and taking it; exceffive roafting for inftance muft 

 change its qualities altogether, and reduce it to the nature of 

 charcoal ; and what, as a grateful aromatic bitter, may, when 

 taken pure, promote digeftion, fhall become altogether inimical 

 thereto by being mixed with fugar and cream. If we expect 

 to experience effects fimilar to what it produces upon the Arabs 

 and Turks, we ought to follow their example, to ufe it as foon 

 as roafled, and without admixture- 

 Flowers with us in Auguft and. September. Propagated by 

 the berries, which mult be fown foon after they are gathered, or 

 they will not vegetate. Being native of Arabia Felix, within 

 the tropics, requires to be kept in the ftove, but. fhould be 

 allowed a free circulation of air, or the leaves become damp 

 and covered with infects, which render tne piant unfightly, and 

 if not remedied will infalliby deltroy it. Commmicated by 

 Meffrs. Loddiges and Sons. 



