30 INTRODUCTION INTO AMERICA. 



attention was bestowed in extending its cultivation, 

 great hopes being entertained that every available spot 

 would be occupied in its cultivation and that its people 

 would T^e largely engaged in its cultivation and exporta- 

 tion to foreign countries. But the civil disorders which 

 begun so soon after its introduction to that country and 

 which continued for so long a time after paralyzed the 

 industry in its infancy, disappointing these hopes so 

 much so that the production of coffee in Mexico has been 

 almost limited to supplying the home demand. Now, 

 however, a brighter era has arrived, more attention being 

 given to its cultivation in that country, her coffee product 

 steadily increasing and improving from year to year. 

 From Mexico the cultivation of the coffee plant spread 

 through Guatamala to Nicaragua, Honduras, Salvador 

 and Costa Rica, until it is or will be grown throughout 

 all the Central and South American countries. 



Efforts have been made from time to time during the 

 past twenty years to introduce the cultivation of coffee 

 into the United States, many thousands of plants being 

 distributed throughout Florida, Texas and Lower Cali- 

 fornia with that object in view. Reported results to the 

 Agricultural Department in Washington from these distri- 

 butions lead to the belief that the climate is too cold for its 

 production for commercial purposes. Some years ago 

 the department received a sample of coffee berries which 

 had been gathered from plants said to have been grown 

 in the open air near the Manatee river in Florida. It was 

 afterwards learned upon investigation that these plants 

 had been protected during the coldest nights by canvas 

 coverings, and in some instances with blankets, yet it is 

 admitted that while it is more than likely that in the 

 extreme southern parts of Florida the coffee plant 

 would thrive without protection and in the open air, the 



