CULTIVATION OF COFFEE IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES. 45 



is widely spread over Arabia, the western coast of India, 

 Ceylon, Sumatra, Bourbon, Mauritius, Java, and some of the 

 Pacific Islands; and in many of these places it is found in 

 climates differing as much as 20 in average temperature. 

 By reference to the Map, a bird's-eye view may be obtained 

 of the several places where the berry is most cultivated or 

 where it may be advantageously produced. According to 

 M. Lascelles, "The coffee-plant will bear extremes of cli- 

 mate better than most plants. In Jamaica it is found on 

 the Blue Mountain, upwards of 6,000 feet above the sea; 

 and in the East Indies it is seen growing, and producing at 

 Coonoor on the ]S"eilgherries, at a similar elevation ; whilst, on 

 the other hand, it is also seen growing at the level of the sea 

 in both hemispheres, a difference of average temperature of 

 from 20 to 30. It has been contended by some that the 

 coffee produced at a high elevation is of a finer quality than 

 that grown in a warmer temperature ; this is, however, gener- 

 ally considered questionable." 



" 'JVhen grown at the extremes of climate it is small, gener- 

 ally much lighter, and the actual number of berries is far less 

 than that grown in a genial climate. Experience has proved 

 that from lat. 6 to 12 an elevation of from 3,000 to 4,000 feet 

 is the most suited, whilst beyond this 500 feet of elevation 

 should be allowed for every degree of latitude. It is now an 

 ascertained fact that much of the far-famed Mocha coffee is 

 produced in the East Indies and shipped to Mocha ; and no in- 

 considerable portion also comes from the low land of Kaffa and 

 Enarea, in Africa. The excellence of Mocha coffee appears to 

 consist more in the name and method of curing than any other 

 cause." 



A recent authority remarks : " It is often the case that theory 

 is opposed to practice in upholding the idea that there is any 

 substantial difference in the coffee grown in different countries. 



