20 THE NATURE AND CULTIVATION OF COFFEE. 



nurseries; 2. Felling and clearing ; 3. Marking roads ; 

 4. Lining and pitting; 5. Filling pits and planting; 

 6. Buildings. 



1. Formation of nurseries. This should generally 

 be done at least six months previous to the commence- 

 ment of the clearing. The felling and clearing is 

 usually begun at the commencement of the dry season, 

 in October; the nurseries should therefore be made 

 in the previous May or June, a tolerably level site 

 being selected. The soil should be trenched at least 

 a foot deep, and after being well pulverized, and all 

 roots and stones removed, should be laid out in beds 

 four feet wide ; and after being copiously manured, or 

 well covered with ashes, planted either with seeds four 

 inches apart, or with young seedlings brought from 

 the nearest estate, at about six inches apart in the 

 rows, and four inches distance each row. This latter 

 is by far the most economical, both in time and money 

 the seedling is much more certain to come on well 

 than a seed ; and as it is probably three or four months 

 old when transplanted, this portion of its growth is 

 saved to the planter. By the process of transplanting 

 also the plant forms a number of fibrous roots, which 

 enable it to bear the subsequent removal to its per- 

 manent place in the plantation. Should seeds be 

 sown, it will be necessary to transplant them when 

 about four inches high into other beds. A slight 

 shade is generally of service for a few weeks after the 

 nurseries have all been planted, but every particle of 

 shade should be removed three or four months before 

 it is intended to plant out. For the information of 

 beginners, it may be stated that a bushel of cherry 



