1 36 Coffee Planting. 



as follows : " I have no hesitation in saying, that 

 surface draining is the most profitable operation in 

 connexion with coffee cultivation. It not only 

 directly accomplishes a most important object in 

 preventing the washing away of soil by heavy 

 rains, but it also prepares the way for modes of 

 cultivation which would otherwise become im- 

 practicable. 



"It. is surprising to see the indifference with 

 which planters witness the loss of thousands of 

 tons of their best soil, by the wash of heavy rains ; 

 and whilst they use their most strenuous efforts to 

 improve their soil, they scarcely do anything to 

 prevent its being carried away. True economy 

 suggests that whatever we may do to improve it, 

 we ought at least to preserve the soil we have. 

 Draining, systematically and judiciously carried 

 out, is an effectual preventive of wash." 



Coffee should never be planted in swampy or 

 sour soils until they have been well drained, other- 

 wise the plants will soon die, from the roots be- 

 coming rotted. Draining swampy ground, how- 

 ever, is another thing altogether from surface 

 draining to prevent wash, and is seldom likely to 

 pay, unless labour is cheap and plentiful. In such 

 cases, the trenches should be two feet deep, and 

 liave an outlet for the water, in fact, they cannot be 

 too deep. Even after being thoroughly drained, 



