NURSERIES 55 



ing of many beds during the two months of ger- 

 mination is saved, and if the young seedlings are 

 carefully handled they show no sign of a check in 

 growth. 



When the young plants are established the less 

 shade given the better. Shading is not at all 

 necessary for Coffee, but can be resorted to in the 

 dry season to save watering. All shading should 

 be removed a few weeks before the plants are 

 removed into the field, in order that they may be 

 hardened to the sun. Coffee plants are large 

 enough to plant out at any time after the age of 

 eight months old. Potting is not necessary in 

 their case as in that of Cocoa and Para. 



By sowing during the rainy season we have 

 frequently raised large numbers of plants without 

 the use of shade or water at any stage. Such 

 plants are found to stand transplanting to the field 

 very much better than those which have been 

 shaded and regularly watered. 



The nursery should in every case be large enough 

 to afford supplies considerably in advance of what 

 is expected to be necessary for the purposes of the 

 new plantation. Some new plants will be required 

 in every field, and should therefore be available. 



