.i TY... Op ,j 



CALlFOlfVt A 

 INTRODUCTION. 



SOME time ago, I received a communication from 

 Messrs. Higginbotham and Co., of Madras, propos- 

 ing that I should bring out a second edition of my 

 work on coffee cultivation, published several years 

 since, and now out of print. To this proposition 

 I assented without much consideration, but on look- 

 ing into my early and somewhat crude production, 

 and being thus reminded not only of its many 

 deficiencies and imperfections (making even due 

 allowance for the date of its publication), but also 

 of the numerous changes which had since taken 

 place in the position of coffee cultivation, I began 

 to regard the step with regret ; a feeling which was 

 not diminished, as it gradually became evident that 

 instead of having merely undertaken to publish a 

 new edition of an existing book, I had practically 

 before me the task of writing a new book altogether, 

 and that with very little time at my disposal for 

 literary pursuits. Now that my work is accom- 



