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so important a part in the preparation for the market. First of all 

 the choice of a really eflicient pulper is very essential, although, 

 at first it is not advisable to put down an expensive plant. The 

 capacity of a single cylinder " Lidgerwood " pulper is sufficient 

 to deal with crops from 100 acres, or more, and space should be 

 left in the factory for extension, when supplementary machines 

 can be manipulated by the same driving power. Selection of an 

 economical running engine capable of working pulper, huller, and 

 water pump is a matter of no little importance. 



The situation of washing and fermenting tanks also is a 

 question requiring careful deliberation. The practice of bringing 

 unripe cherry into the store must be condemned at the outset 

 because a crop in this form cannot be dealt with by any pulper 

 and the result is a dead loss. The pulped beans are run into a 

 fermenting tank, scuddled into a heap, covered with wet gunnies, 

 and kept there for about 60 hours. This is the system mostly 

 employed in Java at the present time. 



If pulping takes place say at 5 p.m., the heap, to prevent 

 over fermentation should be turned over the following day about 

 noon and again covered ; if this be repeated the following morning, 

 the coffee can be thrown into the washing tank the same evening 

 and remain soaking until the commencement of the washing process 

 on the morning after. When a very thorough washing has been 

 effected the coffee becomes what is known as " wet parchment," and 

 is removed in bags or baskets to an open barbecue (or if artificial 

 heat is used, to the drying house), where it is kept constantly 

 turned over until the drying process is complete. The " dry 

 parchment" is then dealt with by a huller which turns out the 

 finished article, the only process remaining being the grading and 

 sizing of the beans according to market requirements. 



Pests and Diseases. 



The cultivation of the product under discussion having as is 

 well known, and as we have just remarked, gone almost entirely out 

 of favour for so long a period, it is not possible even to conjecture what 

 enemies are awaiting us should we once more decide to exploit it. 



I think that we should at the outset assume the fact that while 

 having the opportunity of gathering an amount of useful informa- 

 tion regarding the industry in general from planters in Java who 

 know that we should not enter the field as serious competitors, soil 

 conditions preclude the possibility of its being carried on under 

 exactly similar conditions as those obtaining in that country. 



We possess none of that volcanic soil on this side, and the 

 possibility presents itself that we might on this account be less 

 immune from diseases ; this is a question, however, for the scientist, 

 rather than the planter, but requires all the same, a reasonable 

 amount of delibex'ation. 



