50 



gained in lining is to carry the plants in straight lines 

 parallel to each other, at the same bearing over the whole 

 estate, and to make them cross each other at right angles ; 

 by this means lines will be formed four ways, at the 

 two right angles and at the two diagonals. When this has 

 been successfully achieved, there is, under any circumstances, 

 a workmanlike character about the plantation ; vacancies in 

 the planting are more easily detected, the arrangements for 

 weeding, picking, pruning, and manuring are made without 

 confusion. Diagonal lines across the features of land are 

 said to be best, inasmuch as the stems of the trees by this 

 arrangement offer somewhat more resistance to the washing 

 down of soil by the rains. 



Much argument has been held as to the proper distances 

 at which coffee-trees should be planted ; and in visiting the 

 various districts it will be seen that all distances and all forms 

 have been resorted to. The result of this extended experi- 

 ment has produced a very general opinion in favour of close 

 planting ; that is, 6 feet by 6 feet, or 5 feet by 6 feet, or 

 4 feet 9 inches by 5 feet. The reasons in favour of close 

 planting are these, that the extra number of plants to the 

 acre is followed in the first two crops at least by a pro- 

 portionate increase of crop. By close planting weeds are 

 hindered from growing, and, what is of more consequence 

 still, the ground is sooner covered by the growing plants, and 

 therefore protected from the sun, exposure to which is found 

 to impoverish more than anything else the surface soil, from 

 which the plant chiefly seeks its nourishment. "With an 

 average good soil, and careful handling of the trees and 

 manuring, it is found that closely-planted coffee may be made 

 to continue to bear highly ; that is, in proportion to the extra 

 number of plants to the acre. Close planting is serviceable 

 in enabling, the plants to outlive the effect of exposure to 

 high winds, which in some places are most destructive. The 



