47 



which is found most favourable to the profitable production 

 of the coffee-plant. Perhaps the least favourable localities 

 are those high positions where the natural vegetation is of 

 the alpine character; in such positions the plant will only 

 struggle for an existence ; it therefore follows that the land 

 selected should be well under these extreme elevations. 



Soil of all kinds has had its advocates, and in turn been 

 condemned by all. Depth and freeness are perhaps its most 

 favourable states ; dark black mould is always good ; but 

 wherever there is sufficiency of depth found beneath a virgin 

 forest, at the proper elevation and climate, coffee has come on 

 successfully. The land which has by general opinion been 

 condemned as unfit for continued production is that covered 

 with small jungle after the original forest has been cut down, 

 and the land made to produce a rich crop for the natives. 

 Pe'rhaps it may be the exposure of the soil to the sun, and 

 exhaustion by the large weeds which it produces, which are 

 so injurious to it. The modern system of manuring is rapidly 

 equalising the value of all soils, though deep lands on a lime- 

 stone bottom, or strewed with granite boulders, are always 

 considered highly favourable for coffee cultivation. The 

 proximity of land to roads is a point of great importance in 

 its selection, both as directly and indirectly affecting the 

 outlay in forming a plantation, and probably for a long time 

 determining the large item of expense under the head of 

 transport of produce. 



Eelling and clearing, as the name implies, is cutting down 

 the jungle and burning it off, so as to leave the land clear for 

 planting. It is conducted as follows. Beginning from the 

 lower part of the land and working upwards, the under- 

 growth, or small jungle, is cut down with catties or bill-hooks, 

 leaving the forest trees free and open for the labours of the 

 axemen. Likewise beginning from the lowest part of the 

 field, the labourers, generally village Singhalese, who are ex- 



