62 



DICOTYLEDONS 



Foinciana^ Sesbania, and other Leguminosce. Coffee being an 

 exhausting, crop manuring is essential. 



5. Preparation of Coffee. — When ripe, the fruit is gathered 

 or shaken on cloths spread under the trees. The "berries" are 

 then passed between rollers, which are set close enough to crush 

 the fleshy part, but not so close as to crush the seeds. xVfter 

 being crushed the pulp is washed away, and the berries, still 

 in their skin, are set to dry in the sun. When dry they are again 

 passed between rollers set closer than before, which now break the 

 skin. The broken skin is blown away, and the beans are sorted 

 and packed. 



The raw beans are greenish in colour, and do not smell or 

 taste like coffee. When coffee is wanted, the beans must be 

 roasted, i. e., placed in an iron vessel, which is turned over a tire. 

 The roasted beans are then ground to powder, on which boiling 

 water is poured, and then we get coffee. 



This drink has a stimulating effect 

 on the system, or, in other words, it 

 rouses the nervous system to fresh 

 activity, the sense of hunger is sup- 

 pressed and the desire to sleep is 

 driven away. This is due to a sub- 

 stance, called ''Caffeine", contained in 

 the Coffee beans. If this substance 

 is taken in lai'ger quantities, it acts 

 as a poison; very strong coffee, there- 

 fore, produces palpitation of the heart, 

 congestion of blood in the brain, 

 trembling of the muscles and similar 

 affections of the nerves. Coffee is not 

 a food in any Avay, but is merely a 

 stimulant like alcohol. 



Fig'. 65. — Flower of Ixora. 



The front part of the floral tubo 



with tlic fourtli lobe is removed 



and the ovary is cut oi)on. 



Other Plants of the Coffee Family. 



The Scarlet Ixora {Ixora coccinea; 

 Kan. Kepala, Kisgara; Mai. Cetti; Tata. Veddi; San. Pritali), a 

 very common slirul) in the plains, is a general favourite because 



