2 14 . rt O 1 rr U S J A M A i C t N .>5 i S. eOFFF.f^ 



more vigour, and slioot out to ihe snvnc length as ili lower. Thfe leaves siand^opposite* 

 to each oclier, are ovate- lanceolate,, ant! wi,en fall ;gro'.vn,^a seven inclies lung aiid^ 

 three broad in ttic micJdie, decreasing tov/:irils ey.ei .en<l .;- their borders are liandsouielv 

 vvavi-J, tiieir upper suvJiice of a dark lucid j^reen colour, tiieii*^ lower of ;i p;tie dull 

 green, having half inch long peiioles, wk;t4i e<;<:ti,t)-ae through the !&af, forrtH!l^ the 

 nu<lril), from which issue aUornate veins, .from ejglrt to tea on each aide, having at 

 their orii^'.i Httle secretory puticttiw s, Mtueh iire piomiiient on the ii;)per sorfafe ; ae- 

 CMrding. I.; Linneus, tiie.i leaves continue throe )^^e<irs. The flowers are jiruluced in ' 

 clutters at tlie base of the leaves, siiung close to. tti^ branches; ikey are of a puro 

 white, and of a very grateful odour, like jistiiine. T^olhins;' can be conceived more de- 

 li!;htful than the appearuni e and perfume of a field of-coii"ee in full.hloum; the -air is 

 filled witii fra<;r.wc^a, a.nd the Irecs itppear us if a shower of sno\v had juiit I'alleii on 

 ttieir dark green leaves, which are almost o-nuroly hidden by the flowers, but here and' 

 there the colotir of the ioliage may Vie discovereil, iorniing a fine grovind for, and beau- 

 til'ul contrast to, the pyje white, of the bios.-.onis. This- appearance is, however, butr . 

 of short diH-atioo, fttr, in a few hours af;:er they S"6 full blown, the corollas-decay, be- - 

 iome browi:, and drop ofi'; they slip along the style, and wittier while they hang upon . 

 ^he stigniiis ; so that tin; beauty and fragrance -which may have delighted the senses in 

 the mornings have cntiiidy vanished by noon. , Tlie berries succeed, which are first,, 

 green,.. tiHii red when fully grown, rijun iiito a daik- pur-p4c, wiien they shri\el and 

 drop from the rreei They are of an oblong spheroi.iul furui, .with a ii-ttle circular area 

 atthe.top,. wjihln which is a call aus dot,; .the puip is pale, sweetish, and gelatinous; 

 two-celled, and the partition is ti<ishy and vascular; it is the only receptacle, and pe- 

 netrates tbeelefi. of the scedsc In eael> cell is.one seed only, of an elliptic form, con- 

 vex jtin ^one-side flat on the otlier, with a longitudinal cleft, covered with a loose, elas- 

 tic, paochment- like aril, of -a-jxile glaiiC(iis colour ; -within which it has another very 

 fiiie silky^. diaj>lwnous, cover.- The time of biossoMing varies indifferent situations, 

 butis g.encrally in ti'.e spring cf tlieyeai", troin February to June, and there are two or 

 three.. ditferantbloonts, a tew weeks distant from each other, sooner or later,! accordin"- 

 to the seasons^ wliich is a very fortunate circumstanc-e- for the- planter, as the>fr-uit ri- 

 pening at the same inten-alsflft'ords. time for getting in the crop, as well as for curing 

 it fur market.' The fruit is-fit to pick in about seven luanths troia the ajipearaiKe of 

 the flowers. In old trees the berry is found often to contain only one oval gram,' hav- 

 ing no flatted side ; and, on .the other liand, young luxuriant, trees frequenti3- produce 

 berries containing three seeds. 



With regard to the. cultivation of this valuable plant, die higher mountains, vdiera 

 there is the greatest regularity of seasons^ and where the land is not .'rt' a cold clayey, or 

 hot marly, nature, have been found by experience most congenial .to the cofl'ee tree. 

 It delights in a cool climate, to be situated on a declivity, where there: are frequent.^ 

 Siins, and where lhe,soil is deep and -easily. penetrated by its tender fibrous roots, whiclij 

 often shoot into the earrlh four or even five feet. Ittlirives best in a southern or westf 

 ern aspect, well sheltered from the blasting effects of the north wind. It grows lu.vuri- 

 anth , and is very prodiiftive, in rocky land where tlxe soil is rich and deep in the in- 

 tervals between the rocks, which prevent it from washing away. In flats or bottoms,, 

 sviiere water frequently lodges aboutits roots, the leaves become spotted, drop off, and 

 tiie tree itself soon decays. In such situations, indeed, it seldom jjroduces much fruit, 

 huf runs into a wilderness of branches and leaves. Cofl'ee may be planted at all times 

 ' the yew, when there is rain, but it .certainly succeeds. much the best when planted 



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