COFFEA 



TO \n;i: ARABICA 



Cultivation 



much injury to the roots of tin- |>lant>. When about a year old the 

 .-cedlinizs an- planted out into thrir permanent positions, lint if care be 

 taken to >dcct (lull weather for this operation, many planters prefer older 

 t\vo years old. Much difference of opinion prevails as to 

 the ilistance apart that the plants should be lined in the estate. The 

 MM Inn-res on the following considerations: (a) the nature of the 

 'I ; (b) the system of cultivation to be pursue. I. more .--pe. ially 

 the si/e of plants desired ; (c) the character of the soil ; (d) the degree 

 of shade that exists naturally, or that it is contemplated to afford; and 

 (<) the nature of the climate. In cold countries, where the plants an; 

 not likely to attain to any great size, close planting may be indicated, the 

 verse being the case under influences that might be expected to cause 

 igorous growth. In India the distances apart usually adopted vary Distance Apart. 

 in 1 to 8 feet each way, and 7 feet might be said to be common, or 

 feet between the plants and 7 feet between the rows. This would 

 ive 1,037 plants to the acre, but in many estates a considerably larger punte to Acre. 

 uniher exists in some 5 by 5 feet, or 1,740 trees to the acre. On 

 the other hand, Mr. Leeming of Scotforth, in the Shevaroys, was induced Effect ot 

 01 ue few years ago to believe that a larger plant and more space would T^ 11111 ^- 

 ive equal, if not better returns, at a much lower cost than the prevalent 

 A stem of many small plants. He accordingly removed each alternate 

 iush and reduced his estate to 600 plants to the acre. The result was so 

 cry promising that he went still further, and reduced it to 300 or 325 

 lants to the acre. On the average his bushes now stand 12 feet apart 

 h way. In 1899 I had the pleasure of inspecting Scotforth plantation 

 company with Leeming, as also most of the other coffee estates of 

 that neighbourhood. And I have to admit that Leeming's plants seemed 

 to me in a healthier condition, and to be fruiting more vigorously, than 

 any coffee seen elsewhere. The yield had been greatly increased, the cost 

 of cultivation lessened, the plants rendered better able to throw off disease, 

 and the produce recorded as fetching a higher price than had been the 

 ase under former conditions. These are all powerful arguments. But 

 there may be other considerations and conditions that have to be borne 

 in mind. It does not follow, for example, that plants 12 feet apart each 

 way would give everywhere the same results as on the Shevaroys, nor 

 that each race of the coffee plant would do so. The subject is one, how- 



Icver, that is capable of definite verification, and one moreover that it 

 would seem should be solved by every planter for himself. It would 

 not be a very serious matter to place a plot of a few acres under trial, and 

 if the returns proved unsatisfactory the replanting of fresh stock in place 

 of the old and exhausted plants that had been removed would in time 

 repay the outlay. 

 Cultural Operations. It is undesirable to give details of the varied 

 opinions and practices that prevail as to the best systems of " holing " 

 and " planting out." The size and depth of the holes depend very largely punting out 

 on the nature of the soil, the lie of the land, and the amount of money 

 and time the planter is prepared to expend. Where money is not a 

 \ serious consideration, large holes are made, the removed earth being 

 deposited on the higher side, the holes left exposed for some time to the 

 sun and air, then filled in with surface soil, manure and green vegetation 

 (weeds), but with little or none of the earth previously removed. After 

 a time flu- fresh soil thus furnished will sink, and this depression roust 



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