THE PLANT. 13 



rise groups of berries, at first _yj3llow and harcLjff 

 the touch, lying in the hollows of the leaves. As 

 they ripen under the influence of a meridian sun, 

 their colour deepens not regularly, but by crimson 

 and scarlet shades and tints which spread over 

 the skin until about October its surface is covered, 

 and the " cherry" (for so it is now called by a happy 

 comparison with the familiar fruit) has mellowed to 

 a deep glossy purple-black, with a smooth and 

 bloomless cuticle. 



Laborie, whose works are of undiminished 

 value though amongst the oldest on the planter's 

 shelves, waxes eloquent over the charms of the 

 Coffee bush in its various stages of growth. 

 "In both states, of flower and fruit, nature is 

 nowhere more profuse and beautiful in the variety 

 of its colours and forms," he writes, and we feel 

 much sympathy with his enthusiasm. At this period 

 the cherry is picked, some little experience being 

 required to know just the right time, which is when 

 the fruit feels quite soft to the touch, and a few 

 of the ripest are already falling to the ground. 

 Different sides of a bush will be ready on different 

 days, and different aspects may be as much as a 

 week apart in ripening. This is a boon to the 

 planter, who has his hands very full at this busiest 

 of all seasons. 



The cherry has many and voracious enemies. 

 A few birds wax fat on the sweet pulp at the planter's 

 expense ; Sambur deer are not above an occasional 



ffUNIV] Y )} 



