444 



Agricultural Gazette of N.SJF. [Jane 2, 11)08. 



The \'i)Iiiil;' ciillci' tn'(; is vci'V cxiihiTiiiit iii t iir.>\\'iiig out hir^r ([uaiit.tics 

 of undesirable shoots, wliich, if allowed to m-iture, necessitates a free use of 

 the priiiiinLC knife later on. There are some coffee planters who ai-e not in 

 favour of much pruning until the Hrst or maiden crop has be-n ohtaini'd. 



Tn the AyricalturaJ Gdzctie of January, TS'JI. there is an excelleul articli' 



on Coffee Arabica by Mr. I^'icd. Turner, F.CS , and on the subject of pruning 



he says : — 



Tliis is a very important operation ; for on this not only dej)en(ls the health ai.d 

 longevity of the shruljs but the facility for gatliering (^ tlie crop. Kach .shnib should bu 

 trained to one stem, and if any of the lateral growths are likely to throw it out of l)alance, 

 they should be kept ])inchf<l in, and the superfluous shof)ts out out . When the ])lant • 

 'nave attained a heiglit of f) feet the leaders should he cut out, and the sluidis ne\>r 

 .allowed to grow any higher. The plants will then grow Literally, and after a ft-w years 

 of good cultivation, will nearly meet each other. The centre of the shrul) should be kejit 

 perfectly clear of iipright growth so that plenty of air can circulate amongst the branches. 

 Neglect in this particular will cause much dead wood to accumulate to the detriment of 

 the trees. 1 have found out by experience that, if the shrubs are carefully gone over 

 with a sharp knife, after the crop is gathered, for the purpose of cutting out supcifluous 

 growths, and then again during the early pnrt of the year tor tlie purpose of taking out 

 the water-shoots that grow in the centre (jf the ]jlants, no further attention wdl be 

 re(]uired in the way of pruning. A well-grown coUee shrub should present a dome 

 appearance. 



Coffee Roaster. 



Tn 1<S98 a Grafton newspiper reported that !\lr. Henry Bas'-man, of Emi- 



grant Creek had aboul lift\- coir e t 

 were planted 7 feet apart, and the 



rees. live years old. in tul 



lieai'ing : tjiey 



iiraucne 



)f ilie t I'ees wei'c toueliing. and 



