WEEDING AND PRUNING. 8l 



crop prospect. Others, again, contending that the proper 

 time is immediately before or after the first blossoming 

 season. In the former case it is claimed that topping 

 before the blossoming season has a tendency to turn out 

 a heavy crop on the pruning branches, while in the latter 

 instance other planters boldly sacrifice the heavy yield 

 in order to add to the permanent strength of the tree, 

 invariably refraining from topping the plant until just 

 after the blossoming period. By this latter method 

 several pairs of branches, with their blossoms, are cut 

 off and lost, but the sacrifice will be amply repaid by the 

 increased strength added to the young tree, and also by 

 the advantage of having a small crop on the primary 

 branches below. 



The style of pruning first required by Coffee bushes 

 is that known as " topping," the age and height at which 

 this operation is performed depending in a great measure 

 upon local circumstances, this question also being a much- 

 debated one. The object of " topping," or removing the 

 top of the bush, is to restrain its upward growth within 

 convenient limits, and, as a natural consequence, to 

 strengthen and concentrate its lateral growth. In some 

 countries of the East topping is commenced at the age 

 of twelve to eighteen months, the maximum ordinary 

 height being four feet, which is sometimes reduced to two 

 feet, the operation being postponed until the shrubs have 

 borne their maiden crop, even though extra staking is 

 required to withstand the wind ; the best plan being to 

 remove the two primaries at the required height by a 

 sloping outward cut close to the stem, and then to remove 

 the top by an oblique cut so that the stumps resemble a 

 cross, and a firm, natural knot remains to guard against 

 the stem splitting down. But some planters contend 

 that the plants should be topped as soon as they have 



