NOTES ON COFFEE GROWING. 121 



as those which, according' to the same writer, are called by Eng- 

 lish planters "Black bug" {Lccaninm )ni^nim) and " Cireen 

 bug" (Lccanium veride). These insects attack the stems and 

 often get down to the roots. Next come those diseases caused 

 by cryptogamia, such as the fungus HemUeia vastatrix. 



There are various ways of combating these diseases, and 

 llie best treatments recommended include: j^ordeaux mixture, 

 turpentine, petroleum, and soap solutions. 



In view of so many diseases and several otiier still unknown 

 causes which attack the coffee planit, grafting has been resorted 

 to in various countries for the purpose of ])roducing interesting; 

 hybrids. Thus we hind now. for instance, the products of Steno- 

 philla with Liberia, which, in the opinion of planters, will offer 

 far more resistance to disease. Grafting is made before planting 

 in a conveniently prepared pot, so that the plant will not suff"er 

 from the effects of trans])lanting. The system preferred is cleft- 

 grafting. 



Inhamdane Coffee. 



On account of its ]:)articular type and boucjuet, Irihambane 

 Coffee is undoubtedly the best known Coft'ee in the Province of 

 Mozambique. 



It is a small shrub with oval, glabrous leaves of a brilliant 

 green on the upper side. 



The flowers gather in clusters near the axils of the leaves. 

 The beans are extremely small, and measure an average length 

 of 4 to 5 millimetres. 



Tnhambane Coffee is excellent for blending purposes, and its 

 aroma and flavour, which are totally dift'erent from any other 

 kind, have led many to state that it contains no Caff'ein. 



In the Northern portion of the Inhambane District, more 

 especially in the sub-flistricts of Panga and Massinga, one fre- 

 quently comes across more or less mmierous traces ot imcul- 

 tivated coff'ee plants which the majority of the Natives pull down 

 when tilling their gardens. I had an opportunity to verify, in a 

 private farm, that the crops average about 200 grammes per plant. 

 In view of its resisting properties, I am of opinion that its cul- 

 tivation will handsomely repay those who undertake it. 



A plantation in quincunx should, as a rule, have 663 plants 

 per hectare, which will yield about 1,326 kilogrammes of coft'ee. 

 Prices at Tnhambane vary from 300 to 400 reis per kilo, as \ 

 often had the opportunity of ascertaining. 



Putting aside, however, any optimistic views, let us quote the 

 price as low as 200 reis per kilogramme. One hectare will thus 

 yield 265,200 reis. What will be the cost of tilling per hectare"" 

 it cannot be far beyond 60,000 reis. Let us now add the cost of 

 decortication, transport, and Customs dues, \yhich we may reckon 

 at ^,000 reis. Thus we have an expenditure of 140,000 reis, 

 and if we take the value of the coffee at a very low figure, there 

 would remain a profit of 125,000 reis. 



