CHAPTER IX 



CATCH-CROPS 

 COFFEE ROBUSTA (A PAYING CATCH-CROP) 



COCONUT cultivation, till it reaches the revenue 

 stage, entails a trial of faith and patience which 

 few care to undergo, except those on the spot 

 already engaged in the industry. 



During the waiting years, therefore, much 

 additional interest and occupation is given in 

 the^ planting of robusta coffee as a catch-crop. 

 It is very profitable and does not appear to 

 interfere with the permanent cultivation at all. 



"Coffee Robusta and Coffee Liberica. 



Robusta diifers in many ways from the 

 well-known liberica. The habit is somewhat 

 different. Robusta grows more rapidly. An 

 eight months old robusta plant is much larger 

 and has more branches and leaves than a year 

 old liberica. The branches of robusta are longer 

 and have a tendency to bend down toward the 

 ground, so that the bush is rather umbrella- 

 shaped. Gourmandizers and suckers are fewer 

 than on liberica ; the leaves are a lighter green, 

 thinner, and larger in size. 



" Robusta bears more berries in a cluster than 



