142 Coffee Planting. 



but the first inch or more of valuable surface mould, 

 which will be very apt to float away with the first 

 heavy rain that falls, especially when the land is 

 steep. Repeat this process every few months, and 

 the effect upon the property in loss and deteriora- 

 tion of soil may be imagined. Nevertheless, after 

 a certain point has been passed there is no alterna- 

 tive. Weeding-scrapers are made and sold by the 

 ironmongers, but being merely pieces of hoop iron, 

 about fifteen inches in length, bent round at one 

 end, and pointed at the other,, any bit of hoop bent 

 into the required shape will do equally well. 



Unfortunately, however, there too often comes a 

 time, when even the hoop-scraper is insufficient 

 to meet the necessities of the case. When, for 

 instance, the estate has become over-run with grass, 

 the mammotie must be used. Nothing much more 

 serious can befall an estate than that this should 

 become unavoidable, on steep slopes of course 

 particularly. On level fields, where wash is not to 

 be apprehended, hoeing freely and deeply will on 

 the other hand be highly beneficial, by opening up 

 the soil to the sun and air, except in the dry season, 

 in districts which suffer from drought, when for this 

 very reason it ought to be avoided. In damp, cold 

 climates, digging up the soil tends more than 

 almost anything to improve its character ; especially 

 stiff, clayey soils. Without digging up, indeed, stiff 



