Information about the. Coffee Tree. 



219 



pea — Cicer Arietinmn of botanists. Tliis is doubtless the plant 

 wliich has been grown in Maine, and described as the cott'ee of 

 commerce. The difi'erencc between the two is very wide — the 

 cMcI: pea belonging- to the natural order of plants bearing legumes 

 — LagumiiMscr. The coffee tree belongs to the natural order 

 Chinconaca:, and produces its fruit in the shape of an oval, red 

 berry, containing two seeds each, which is the coffee of commerce. 

 The berries are dried, and the pulpy portioii is very easily freed 

 from the seed. In order to give a more correct idea of tlie man- 

 ner of operating on a coffee plantation, 1 have compiled a cliap- 

 ter of information derived from the best authorities. 



The coffee plant whicli yields the article of commerce, is one of 

 a dozen species of the like genus, inhabiting various countries 

 about tiie Tropics. It is the Caffea Arahica of botanists, and be- 

 longs to the order of Ruli'icea'. From tlic engraving it may be- 

 seen that in appearance the 

 coffee plant closely resembles 

 the Portugal laurel. The flow- 

 ers assimilate to those of the 

 jasmine, (as well also in fra- 

 grance), while the fuU-groAvqi 

 fruit has the appearance of a 

 ripe cherr}'. 



The plant, if left unculti- 

 vated, grows in a wild, strag- 

 gling manner, to about the 

 height of ten or twelve feet. 

 In plantations, however, it is 

 as carefully pruned as any cur- 

 rant or gooseberry bush in this 

 country, being kept down or 

 "topped" when from live to 

 seven feet high, and only a cer- 

 tain quantity of the best bear- 

 ing wood retained. It grows 

 readily in many soils, at various altitudes, Worn 500 to 4,000 feet 

 above the level of the sea in tropical countries, but does not yield 

 abundantly or of fine quality, unless at between 1,100 and 3,500 

 feet, which on the slope of mountain laud, and with good soil, is 

 tlie. favorite altitude. 



