shade isgood ; . I always think that even a "Charcoal" is better 

 than- nothing ; but I am in no way prepared to advocate its 

 use. Unless allowed to grow immediately after the clearing; 

 it rarely lives many years, and is attacked with a species of 

 Borer, which rapidly makes the tree unsightly, and a source 

 of constant annoyance-; and ultimately renders its entire re- 

 moval absolutely necessary ; probably just at a time when 

 the coffee is in full crop. It may generally be accepted as 

 a fact, that the first lot of "Charcoal trees' ' allowed to spring 

 up immediately after clearing, will live 15 years; but if 

 raised on old land, they will generally be found to get the 

 Borer, or become useless from other causes, in about half that 

 time. It is frequently remarked that a fine crop of coffee is 

 obtained after the felling of "Charcoal," and hence is it erro- 

 neously argued that it does not rob the soil. I cannot agree 

 to any such proposition, as I have noticed similar results 

 after the removal of all the other classes of tree known to 

 be absolutely pernicious to coffee. The effect noticed is 

 merely owing to the recuperative energy of the soil, the 

 stimulus of light and air, and the increase of hygrometric 

 moisture. The yellow tinted light being removed; and the 

 soil relieved of the burden of supporting a greedy consumer 

 of moisture, should 1 alone be considered a satisfactory ex- 

 planation of the effect on the surrounding coffee. 



Castor oil plants, have been frequently tried> and I 

 think, I may safely say, that few have experienced any 

 benefit from their use for shade purposes ; the digging in of 

 a young crop, before such has lost succulency, is undoubted. 

 ly however to be recommended as a manurial operation. 



Plantains,. Orange and Loq.uot trees, although orna- 

 mental and much prized for. their fruit, are not at all suited 

 for shade purposes. 



In conclusion therefore, I would strongly advise, that 

 trees really well adapted for shade purposes be selected and 



