OTHER VARIETIES. 183 



Triage Is composed chiefly of dead or decayed 

 beans, which are invariably sour, bitter and black, being 

 entirely destitute of the active principle of coffee, con- 

 taining no aroma and invariably injuring and detracting 

 from any coffee in which they may be mixed as they 

 usually are no matter how small the quantity used. 



Screenings Are composed of the dust, chaff and 

 mutilated beans separated from the regular grades of 

 coffee in the process of milling, and drink well accord- 

 ing to the variety or grade from which they are obtained, 

 but are generally roasted, ground and mixed with chicory, 

 and sold in package form. 



Skimmings Are usually composed of that portion 

 of the cargo stowed in the bottom or sides of the vessels 

 in which it is imported, or of the storehouse sweepings 

 after the regular coffee has been delivered. A greater or 

 less portion of all cargoes are found damaged by damp- 

 ness or bilge-water during the voyage, thus staining and 

 discoloring the coffee, rendering it mouldy or musty, 

 The strained and damaged bags are emptied and the tainted 

 coffee " skimmed" off, milled, rebagged and sold under 

 the head of " Skimmings/' They are generally branded 

 " G. S." (Good skimmings), " G. L. S." (Good light 

 skimmings), " G. D. S." (Good dark skimmings), " F. S." 

 (Fair skimmings), and " S. S." (Store or ship sweepings) 

 Notwithstanding their origin many of those coffees roast 

 and drink exceedingly well, but great care must be exer- 

 cised by the dealer in selecting them, as they may taste 

 of the bilge-water or be mixed with coal, iron, chips and 

 other extraneous substances. 



United States Coffee The Department of Agricul- 

 ture at Washington has recently issued a circular rela- 

 tive to the possibility of coffee culture in some of the 



