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Dealing with the various works incidental to the actual 

 cultivation in this country there would appear a necessity for many 

 changes in methods that in former times were considered orthodox. 



Planting Distance. 

 Planting distance in cofEee, as in every other ti-opical product, 

 gives rise at the outset to a considerable amount of discussion, the 

 variety of opinions occasioned chiefly by the dissimilarity in soil 

 conditions, situation, etc. 



At whatever height the tree be topped, or even if it be not 

 topped at all, the spread of the lower branches indicates the 

 inadvisability of anything like close planting. Diametrical 

 measurements of trees with specially vigorous gi'owth have in 

 some instances been given from trees topped at 5| feet showing as 

 much as 20 feet across, but although under the most favourable 

 conditions such a result over a large area is highly improbable, still, 

 the adoption of a much wider distance than used to be considered 

 correct is to be recommended. 



The undesirability of allowing the lower branches to overlap, or 

 even to meet, is very soon obvious when heavy blossoms and crops 

 begin to be visible, and when the cooly, whether he be engaged in 

 the works of weeding, cultivation, or gathering the crop, makes his 

 way down the lines not only with difficulty but at the serious 

 expense of the newly-set crop which is often destroyed in large 

 quantities. 



Should the policy of 5| feet topping be adopted, the distance for 

 planting may reasonably be given as 15 ft. x 15 ft. or 12 ft. X 20 ft., 

 the former giving nearly 200 trees to the acre, and the latter 180. 



High coffee (untopped) has never been greatly in vogue in this 

 country, though in Java and Sumatra the system has many 

 supporters. It entails a great deal more expense in maintenance 

 such as pruning, etc., ladders also are required foi- picking the crop, 

 these are costly in manufacture and upkeep, and it is doubtful if 

 proportionate results are obtained. 



Selection of Seed. 

 There is just as much to be said in favour of cax'eful selection of 

 seed, as in other products ; and it is unnecessary to state that the 

 cheriy should be perfectly ripe. In preparing for the nursery, care 

 must be taken after the process of separation from the pulp is 

 complete to mix well with dry ashes, and spread out in a warm 

 place, not exposed to the direct rays of the sun. Deep planting in 

 the nursery is a very ordinary cause of failure in germination ; the 

 seed need only be placed to a depth of 1 inch, but the nursery 

 requires top-dressing with fine soil after heavy rains. A safe 

 distance at which to place the seed is 5 to 6 inches apart, and 

 a heavy attap shade is a necessity. Plants taken fi-om the 



