226, Coffee Planting. 



such shoots there will be no lack, as every tree once 

 topped will make constant efforts to increase its 

 stature by throwing these out. At the same time 

 it is safer to err rather in the former than in the 

 latter direction. 



The plants should be topped as soon as they 

 have reached the desired height, which can, at this 

 stage of their growth, easily be done by a pinch 

 between the thumb and finger. As, however, some 

 of the plants will be found more forward than others, 

 a knife will be required for use in cases where the 

 wood is more matured. Each coolie should be 

 provided with a measuring stick cut to the proper 

 length, and holding this against the stem of the 

 plant, be instructed to snip off the pair of young 

 primary branches next above the stick, at about an 

 inch from the stem, the latter being then also cut 

 off above them. By this means, the joint or point 

 of union of the amputated branches will form a sort 

 of band, and prevent tlje stem from being subse- 

 quently split by the weight of the next branches 

 pendant on either side when laden with crop. 



I have heard it argued that plants should not be 

 topped early, lest the growth of fruit-bearing wood 

 should be forced on prematurely ; but, it must be 

 remembered, the entire system of cultivation is 

 more or less one of artificial forcing, and it appears 

 to me, that to allow a young plant to produce a foot 



