72 



same time the expense of storework would have been more 

 than fourfold. The whole expense of the storework, viz. pulp- 

 ing, washing, curing, and storing the Rathoongodde coffee, 

 amounted to 2d. per cwt., and when it is considered that 

 during crop time the value of every man's labour is greatly 

 increased, it is an object, as far as possible, to substitute 

 mechanical contrivance for manual labour, so that all hands 

 may be employed in gathering the crop as it ripens. 



Every planter knows that when coffee is spread out in a 

 single layer on the floor of his store, it becomes dry after a 

 time, and is well cured without any further attention on his 

 part ; but it is impossible to devote sufficient space for this 

 purpose without incurring an expense which would be quite 

 incompatible with his circumstances. When, however, coffee 

 is thus spread out in a single layer, it is obvious that the 

 reason why it requires no attention is, because the beans 

 being freely exposed to the atmosphere, there is naturally a 

 constant change of the air by which they are surrounded ; 

 the same air is not sufficiently long in contact with the beans 

 to excite the first action of decomposition, and the absorp- 

 tion of oxygen is not accomplished. Presuming, however, 

 that it were so, the subsequent actions could not take place, 

 for the products of the first action, viz. carbonic acid, heat 

 and watery vapour, would immediately make their escape 

 and be dissipated by the atmosphere, which is precisely what 

 takes place when, by mechanical means, a draught of air is 

 carried through a mass of coffee. Hence, it is evident that 

 the requirements of space are overcome by the adoption of 

 this plan, and that a great mass of coffee is placed under 

 conditions similar to those by which a single layer is in- 

 fluenced when exposed to a natural draught of atmospheric 

 air. 



