LIBERIAN COFFEE. 97 



British Honduras all the aspects of a thoroughly sound invest- 

 ment. 



With regard -to establishing plantations of this coffee, the 

 same steps may be taken as for cacao, with the exception that 

 the Liberian coffee-trees may be placed at 10 feet apart, each way. 



They may be " topped," to keep them within reach of pruners 

 and pickers of crop, at about 5 feet 6 inches. By " topping " 

 the trees are encouraged to throw out strong lateral branches 

 (primaries) ; but owing to the height at which the first primaries 

 of Liberian coffee are thrown out, it is evidently not advisable 

 to top too low. 



With regard to pruning Liberian coffee, the same general 

 principles apply to it as to the Arabian coffee. 



The several portions of the tree cannot have too much air 

 and light, and a system of pruning that will remove .useless 

 growths (gormandisers), and direct the energies of the plant to 

 the production of fruit, must be, in the end, most beneficial and 

 successful. 



Trees of Liberian coffee come into bearing in the third year ; 

 crops of at the rate of about 3 or 4 cwt. per acre should be 

 gathered in the fifth year, with a maximum return from the 

 tenth year. 



For pulping Liberian coffee a very useful hand-pulper has 

 been especially invented by Messrs.' John Walker & Co., 

 Colombo, Ceylon. It is said to pulp at the rate of ten bushels 

 per hour, and to cost, complete, 18. 



Another machine adapted for hulling this coffee in the 

 " cracknel " state, that is, after the cherries have been simply 

 dried in the sun (without pulping), is highly recommended by 

 Mr. E. S. Morris, of Philadelphia, who has taken a great per- 

 sonal interest in the development of the coffee industry amongst 

 the negroes of the Liberian Republic. 



