1O4 COFFEE *. ITS CULTIVATION AND PROFIT. 



CHAPTER X. 



WEEDS. 



WEEDS are almost universally recognised as amongst 

 the worst of planters' foes. We have no ambition 

 to join the standard of revolt against this orthodox 

 opinion which one gentleman at least of Ceylon 

 experience has raised, yet we have never felt quite 

 satisfied with the bare sun-scorched surface of 

 earth the energetic weeder leaves behind him. We 

 have often been tempted to ask, is there any single 

 instance in Nature (and we have a great respect for 

 Nature!) where bush or tree in a tropical climate 

 springs from a bare and naked soil ? Even if a few 

 such instances could be pointed out, it cannot be 

 denied that a natural manner of growth is first a 

 carpet of low grass or herbage, through which these 

 better and bigger bushes and trees force a way. 

 Even in dense, dark woods and jungles, where there 

 are practically no weeds, a thick blanket of twig 

 and fallen leaf supplies the place and answers the 

 same purpose. Scrape a little of this aside and we 

 shall notice fine fibrous roots of big plants, close 

 under the skin of matter, lying in every direction ; 

 place the hand upon this newly exposed surface 

 and it will strike cool, and more or less damp, in 



