66 COFFEE : ITS CULTIVATION AND PROFIT. 



cially if leaves are spread (as just mentioned) an 

 inch or two thick on the soil ; they will preserve it 

 of an equal temperature and moist in a manner 

 which any English gardener will readily understand. 

 Much or little, the waterings must take place in 

 the cool of the day, morning or evening ; were it 

 done under a midday sun the plants would be in 

 danger of steaming to death, as a person would who 

 enjoyed the luxury of the vapour- room of a Turkish 

 bath for three or four hours ! A couple of trust- 

 worthy men ought to be able to cope with this 

 operation day by day if water is handy and the 

 nursery not too large. 



Another device for protecting young plants at 

 this season of growth is the " pandall," or artificial 

 cover, accepted by nearly every planter as necessary 

 in some form or other. It is made thus : At each 

 corner of the beds forked sticks are put in, the forks 

 about three feet above the ground, and from post 

 to post are lain cross branches. Upon these in 

 turn small boughs with the leaves still on are put, 

 fairly thickly, and thus a shade is made for the 

 tender plants below which can be regulated in its 

 density at will. If branches should be scarce, then 

 dried grass may be substituted ; but it must be 

 always remembered that " pandalls " are very liable 

 to take fire, either accidentally or through the instru- 

 mentality of spiteful natives, and it is as well to 

 have them as non-inflammable as possible. This 

 artificial shading is only resorted to on the approach 



