GENERAL CULTIVATION. 41 



utilization of the soil from marshes, which not unfre- 

 quently are found in the vicinity of estates, and which 

 when the lands surrounding them are covered with rich 

 vegetation, contain vegetable substances of the most 

 fertilizing character. From an analysis of the ash of 

 the coffee bean, we shall find that ordinary wood ashes 

 with a small quantity of phosphate of lime contain all 

 the essential constituents necessary for the production 

 of coffee. This easily procured stimulant, should always, 

 therefore, form a large portion of any manure which, 

 may be applied. A compost unequalled in its effects 

 may be made, by mixing coffee pulp, wood ashes and 

 common salt with a large quantity of straw, weeds, 

 grass, or other vegetable matter, and applying them 

 when thoroughly decomposed. Mr. Perindorge, of 

 Ceylon, recommended large quantities of manure, 

 being formed by saturating heaps of weeds, forest 

 leaves, etc,, with repeated waterings of sal ammoniac, 

 and a cheap and economical method will be found to 

 cover each day's pulp, during the pulping season, with 

 a layer of vegetable rubbish of any kind, adding a thin 

 layer of mould or wood ashes, and watering it frequently 

 with salt water. Where pasture is obtainable, cattle 

 manure will be found both cheap and efficacious, but it 

 must be borne in mind, that when cattle are fed only 

 on the grass found in jungle pasture, the nitrogenous 

 elements which render animal excrement of every kind 

 so valuable, are absent, and with the exception of a 

 small quantity of ammonia and of phosphoric acid, 

 every constituent of such manure will be found in 

 ordinarily decomposed vegetable matter. To render 

 cattle manure of its full value, it should be mixed with 



