682 •"•) A M A I C A. 



and this is the ibrt which will gain the preference at market, from 

 the fuperior excellence of its flavour. The South-fide parts of the 

 ifland produce a much better- flavoured coffee than the North-fide. 

 The berries of the latter and midland-parts are large, and have a 

 full pulp, which requires a long time to dry; and the atmofphere 

 and weather of thefe diflrids are too moift for the purpofe: lb that 

 the coffee, brought from thence, is frequently c6vered with a degree 

 of mouldinefs, and contrails a muft}^ difagreeable Irnell and tafte. 

 The larger, therefore, and more lucculent the berries are, the worfe 

 will be their flavour. The befl way of raifing them is from the 

 feed ; for the young plants do not take root well, nor thrive, in the 

 lowlands, if they have been brought from the mountains: but, if 

 railed in a nurfery in the lowlands from feed, they may be tranf- 

 planted with fuccefs during the rainy I'eafons, or when the ground is 

 thoroughly moiftened. The feeds, or berries, for this purpofe, fiiould 

 be fet immediately after their being gathered from the tree ; other- 

 wife they are apt to fail. When the plants are about hve or fix inches 

 high, and grow double- (or two together), they fliould be carefully 

 feparatedj which is done by drawing one or both, and planting tiiem 

 in feparate beds, without injuring the fibres of the roots, or expofmg 

 them too long to the air, which would probably kill the plants. 



The berry ripens from Auguft to 061:ober, blackens in November, 

 and is fit to gather in December ; but it ought never to be gathered 

 until the pulp is exhaled, and the coat fuffered to become thoroughly 

 dry and fhriveled ; fo that they appear ready to drop off" thcmfelves, 

 and aftually fall ofFupon a flight touch. 1 have always experienced, 

 that the befl-flavoured coffee was coUeiled from under the trees, 

 where it had recently fallen, quite dry, black, and fhriveled. 

 Wherever it is cultivated, it ought to be planted at diflances fuitable 

 to its growth ; for, in the lowlands, it rarely exceeds five feet in 

 height ; but, in the mountains, it rifes to ten feet, or more. The 

 diflance therefore at which they are fet from each other ought to equal 

 the height at which they ufually grow in thefe parts refpectively. 

 The produce of a good tree is from one pound and a half to two 

 pound weight. 



The mountain coffee might be improved by fending the berries, 

 %\bcn gathered, to the lowlands, where the heat is greater, and air 



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