Coffee Planting. 



In its natural state, and under favourable circum- 

 stances, it will attain a height of from fifteen to 

 twenty feet. In form it is slender, opening out 

 at the upper part into long, drooping branches, 

 which seldom grow to any great thickness. 



The leaves in general appearance resemble those 

 of the Portugal laurel, being of a dark shade, 

 smooth and very shiny on the upper surface ; in 

 shape they are elliptical, pointed, and generally 

 between three and four inches long (though, occa- 

 sionally, they attain to as much as six inches in 

 size). They are placed opposite each other, in 

 pairs, and are connected with the branches by 

 short foot stalks, each pair being usually from two 

 to four inches apart from the next on the branch. 



The blossom is white and small, not unlike that 

 of the jessamine, both in scent and form. Bo- 

 tanically, it is described as axillary, sessile, calyx 

 monopetalous, funnel-shaped, and cut at the limb 

 into fine, reflexed, lanceolate segments. It comes 

 out in groups ; from four to sixteen flowers 

 springing from the axil of the leaves. 



The bark is smooth or nearly so, and of a 

 greyish-brown colour. 



The fruit or berries which succeed the blossom 

 are at first dark green, but soon change their hue 

 as they progress towards maturity, first to yellow, 

 then to red, until finally they become a deep 



