50 CULTIVATION OF COFFEE IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES. 



other. The seed, if sown in suitable weather, soon makes its 

 appearance above the surface ; so that a nursery made in 

 May or June of one year has plants fit to put out at the 

 same date in the following year. A slightly inclined piece of 

 land is more desirable for a nursery, because the natural drain 

 age would be better ; and it is important that care should be 

 taken to prevent damage by heavy rains. One bushel of parch 

 ment coffee is calculated to yield about 30,000 plants ; so that 

 for a clearing of 100 acres, four or five bushels of seed would 

 be required. When the young trees in a nursery have attained 

 a growth and age at which their being planted out as plants 

 becomes rather a doubtful proceeding, with reference to the 

 probability of their succeeding and taking root, it is better to 

 make &quot; stumps &quot; of them : this is done by pulling them up, 

 with as little injury as possible to the roots, and cutting them 

 down to about six inches above the root ; then to shorten the 

 tap-root by a careful sloping cut ; next to trim the other lateral 

 roots, which are often needlessly extended. Filling in is the 

 operation that follows holing. It has been ascertained by 

 experience, that leaving the holes open for some time is very 

 beneficial to the soil in a chemical point of view. Filling in, 

 like every other work on a coffee estate, should be carefully 

 superintended. But of all operations in the formation of 

 a coffee plantation, the actual placing of the plants in the 

 holes is the one that requires the utmost care and attention. 

 Early planting is, of course, desirable, because the trees have 

 the benefit of the entire rainy season, and are sure to give a 

 larger maiden crop. The usual course of transferring the 

 plants is as follows: when pulled up, those with crooked 

 roots should be picked out and thrown away ; the roots should 

 then be trimmed with a sharp knife, diminishing the length 

 of the tap-root sufficiently to prevent the chance of its being 

 bent or broken. The plant should not be put deeper into the 



