SHADE. 89 



an instance where the felling of 300 acres or so of a forest for 

 Coffee resulted in the same way." 



Therefore we say, shade your Coffee well with 

 natural shade if it is ready made to your hand, if 

 not, grow some for yourself as quickly as possible. 



Needless to say, much will depend on position, 

 elevation, and aspect. Coffee grows well in Ceylon 

 in the open on account of the natural humidity of 

 the climate. In the hotter seasons of India um- 

 brageous protection of some kind is a matter of 

 necessity, notwithstanding the drawback of shorter 

 crops. The amount of shade to be left where 

 wholesale burning is not to be practised must of 

 course be regulated according to the exposure. It 

 need hardly be said that a great deal will be required 

 on southern slopes, very little on northern ones, 

 and that eastern and western slopes will require 

 a moderate degree. 



In the early years of planting in Southern India 

 most of the managers came from an island where 

 the climate was damp and comparatively mild, and 

 " shade " trees consequently not essential to the 

 culture of Coffee, as we have said. They broke up 

 Indian forests, and, acting on their previous expe- 

 rience, planted their gardens all in the open, with 

 the result that the first succession of extra dry 

 seasons worked sad havoc amongst them. This is 

 the explanation of those gaunt, sun-scorched gardens 

 too common in Travancore and Mysore. Now they 

 are wiser, and even if they do not preserve their 



