2 1 2 Coffee Planting. 



Mincing Lane circular of February this year, may 

 be taken as showing the comparative values of the 

 respective descriptions : 



Ceylon Plantation. Mocha. Native Ceylon. Rio. 



(Middling.) (Good ordinary.) (Good firsts.) 



new. to n$s. IO&T. to new. &6s. 6d. 7&r. 



In order to gather the berries as they ripen, it 

 will generally be necessary to go over the estate 

 two or three times the first and third pickings, 

 however, being usually very light ones, and the 

 bulk of the crop being got in on the second round. 

 The crop but rarely ripens all at once, except on 

 very young trees. 



Should the planter be short-handed, it will pro- 

 bably be more prudent to get in at once all the 

 berries which are sufficiently matured for pulping ; 

 time will thus be gained, and a loss of crop may be 

 prevented, if at some sacrifice in quality. How- 

 ever it may suit the native cultivator, who dries 

 the berries as they are, to pick the ripe and unripe 

 together, the planter must be most particular not 

 to allow any green berries to be brought into the 

 pulping-house, inasmuch as in passing through the 

 pulper they lose not only their outer covering, but 

 also the inner coat or " parchment," as well as the 

 " silver-skin/' They also usually get crushed and 

 broken, being tender and wanting in mucilage, and 

 consequently ferment and rot away afterwards in 



