GROWTH OF THE COFFEE PLANT 193 



Since the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies, 

 tlic export of coffee, which in 1827 amounted to 29,419,598 

 ixiimds, dwindled to 4,054,028 in 1857, for such is the indolence 

 of the emancipated negro, or so few his wants, that even the 

 highest wages are insufficient to rouse him to exertion. 



In Cuba, finally, which exported more than 40,000,000 

 of pounds in 1833, the produce has now fallen to one half, 

 though from a different cause, as it has been found that slave- 

 labour can be more advantageously employed in the cultivation 

 of sugar. 



With regard to quality, Mocha coffee, though compara- 

 tively insignificant in point of quantity, is still prominent 

 in flavour and aroma ; the finer sorts of Ceylon and Bourbon 

 rank next, while the cheapest and commonest is the ordinary 

 Brazil. 



The general production of coffee throughout the world amounts 

 probably to more than 730,000,000 of pounds, and is constantly 

 increasing as civilisation with its growing wants and luxuries 

 spreads over the face of the globe. 



When left to the free growth of nature, the coffee-tree attains 

 a height of from fifteen to twenty feet ; in the plantations, 



' however, the tops are generally cut off in 



' order to promote the growth of the lower 



[ branches, and to facilitate the gathering 



: of the crop. Its leaves are opposite, 



• evergreen, and not unlike those of the 



; bay-tree ; its blossoms are white, sitting 

 on short footstalks, and resembling 

 the flower of the jasmine. The fruit 

 winch succeeds is a green berry, ripening 

 into red, of the size and form of a large 

 cherry, and having a pale, insipid, and Coffee. 



somewhat glutinous pulp, enclosing two 



hard and oval seeds or beans, which are too well known to 

 require any further description. The tree is in full bearing 

 from its fourth or fifth year, and continues during a long series 

 of seasons to furnish an annual produce of about a pound and a 

 half of beans. 



The seeds are known to be ripe when the berries assume a 

 dark red colour, and if not then gathered, will drop from the 



o 



