COFFBA 



ARABICA 



Soils 



Climate. 



Temperature. 

 Humidity. 



Situation. 



Soil. 



Ferruginous 

 Loam. 



Rocky Soil. 



Manured Soils. 



Nursery. 



Sand. 



Mould. 



Watering. 



THE COFFEE PLANT 



be accepted as a method of deriving the yield, though the figures thus 

 produced are suggestive and have, therefore, a certain value. 



Climate and Situation. It has been said, and with much force, 

 that a good deal of land at one time and another has been opened under 

 coffee that was never suited to it. Of this nature are some of the Coorg 

 estates (or portions of them) that have a southerly aspect and are exposed 

 to the full force of the east winds. Situation and exposure are factors 

 of prime importance. It seems to be the Indian experience that coffee 

 prefers land standing from 1,500 to 5,500 feet above the sea-level, the 

 exact altitude being controlled to a large extent by latitude. Far to 

 the south higher altitudes would seem necessary than in the more northern 

 tracts. The temperature best suited would appear to range from 55 

 to 80. The total rainfall should not exceed 150 inches but about 100 is 

 the amount most frequently commended, provided it be fairly evenly 

 distributed throughout the year ; but December to March may be dry. 

 Coffee distinctly requires a humid atmosphere, and in the opinion of 

 most planters the prevalence of heavy winds are more objectionable 

 than a dry atmosphere or a low rainfall. The climate must be open and 

 bracing and the sky not heavily overcast. With C. arabica low-lying 

 and damp situations induce disease. As already mentioned, however, 

 altitudes lower and warmer than those indicated for C. <ir<tbica are 

 suited for C. liberica, but even with that species the higher limits of 

 its production give the most valuable berry. 



Soil. Coffee, although very largely a surface feeder, has a long tap- 

 root which it is most desirable should not be injured during transplanting. 

 The success of the crop depends to a large extent on the depth of the soil. 

 The best soil might be described as a well-drained, ferruginous loam, 

 though certain clays mixed with sand give good results, especially if a 

 fair amount of humus be present or be given as top-dressing. Very 

 chalky soils, as also stiff clays, are useless. It is usually held that soils 

 that contain a fair amount of iron give the best-flavoured berries. But 

 below the subsoil there must rest a bed of very porous material so as to 

 ensure ready drainage. In fact a rocky soil with pouches of loam between 

 the outcropping rocks gives admirable results, as may be seen in many 

 parts of the Shevaroys, the Nilgiris and the Wynaad. The rocks are 

 constantly weathering and thus adding to the soil, while, according to the 

 planters, they also transmit the heat and moisture. [Of. Kobinson, Pringle, 

 Voelcker, Lehmann, Leather, etc.] It is, however, unfortunate that no 

 record has been kept of the conditions of land opened out and of the same 

 fifteen or twenty years afterwards, both in estates manured and in those 

 not manured. 



PROPAGATION. Nursery. Having selected the site for a planta- 

 tion, cleared and burned (or piled up in ridges to await natural disintegra- 

 tion) all the trees not deemed necessary for shade purposes, laid out the 

 roads and carried a water supply to the coffee-house, the next most urgent 

 task is to select and prepare the site for the nursery. This must never 

 be on an old coffee plantation, but on virgin ground of sufficient richness 

 that manuring may not be necessary except to add sand with a view to 

 securing its porous nature. But the soil of the seed-beds must be rich 

 in vegetable mould, bear a gentle slope, be well drained, retentive of 

 moisture, and liberally supplied with water for irrigation purposes, since 

 for some time watering. is necessary. If not already secured, provision 



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