6g2 JAMAICA. 



the feed ; the fecond, within four months after the firfl: ; and the 

 produce of each tree is reckoned about one pound weight. The 

 South-fide planters generally cultivate it in May, and gather, in the 

 'January following; but, unlefs they have rain between January and 

 April, which more often fails than happens, they rarely make much 

 of the fecond crop ; for which reafon, September feems to be a fitter 

 feafon for planting the feed, as it will have certain rains in Odlober, 

 to eftablifh its vegetation ; and, being gathered about May, the 

 fhowers, which may probably fall in the fucceeding weeks, promife 

 to enfure a tolerable fecond crop. The feed is fet, in regular lines, 

 at the diftance before-mentioned, fo as to let the branches fpread 

 freely, which however are fometimes pruned, if the foil be too rich, 

 and their growth over-luxuriant ; and they are likewife pruned, or 

 trimmed, conftantly after the firfl gathering. When the pods are 

 come to maturity, they burft open, and difclofe their feeds, intermixed 

 wJth the flock, or wooll. When great part of the pods are thus 

 expanded, the crop begins, the wooll is picked, and afterwards 

 cleared from the feeds by a convenient machine, of very fimple con- 

 trivance, called a gin, coropofed of two or three fmooth, wooden 

 rollers, of about one inch diameter, ranged horizontally, clofe and 

 parallel to each other, in a frame; at each extremity they are toothed, 

 or channeled longitudinally, correfponding one with the other; and, 

 the central roller, being moved with a treadel, or foot-lath, refem- 

 bJing that of a knife-grinder, makes the other two revolve in contra 

 direftions. The cotton-wooll is laid, in fmall quantities at a time, 

 upon thefe rollers, whilft they are in motion, and, readily palfing be- 

 in refpeft to- national oeconomy, the benefit of our colonies, and the lives of the feamen, eveiy 

 lircumftance concurs to give colt'ee the preference. It is raifed by our fellow-fubjefts, paid for by 

 our manufactures, iuid the produce ultimately brousjht to Great-Britain. 



The great obllacle to a more general ufe of coffee is the verj' high duty and excife. 

 Leflening thele impofitions would not lelfen the revenue. Smutjgling would be diliouraged ; and 

 an incrcafcd coniumption would make up the dciiciency to the treafury. 



The planters would be induced to cultivate it with more attention, and with more fldll, if tljere 

 was a belter market for it. 



As the L'U'er planters might be able to fubfift by raifing this, and other fmall articles of Weft-In- 

 dia produce, their numbers would Increafe, and add to the defence and fecuriiy ot the fevcral 

 jflands ; more efpccially fince the cultivation of fuch articles would be airenJed with no greater la- 

 bour than what Europeans are capable of enduring without any peril to their lives. 



Up )n th-jfc various confiderations, it is to be hoped, that government will fee its error before it is' 

 too late ; and, by relicvi.ig the planters trom the imtnidcrate burthens laid ujxjh them, wliich arc fo 

 riiinou; to their indubv, jircvcnt the cultivation of thele articles trom being wholly loll to our 

 ;ll.inds, th; latter weakened and <lifcouraged, and the revenues of Britain impaired, as they mall be, 

 if coffee, Lacao, and cotton, fliould no longer be worth the cxjOce and labour oi being attended 

 10 in our own \Vejl-I.:diu fcctlcmcnts. 



7 tween 



