164 COFFEE I ITS CULTIVATION AND PROFIT. 



so much at a time, and thus it goes by steady 

 gradient and regular curves into the cisterns of the 

 curing room. Large as the prime cost of this 

 spouting undoubtedly is (^300 should furnish a 

 2OO-acre plantation), on extensive estates it cannot 

 fail to pay. " The coolies are able to gather a 

 larger quantity, and they are saved bodily wear 

 and tear. With a force of 200 coolies in the 

 field, an increase of at least 100 bushels, or 

 10 cwts. a-day, may be safely reckoned upon, 

 amouting say to 300 cwts. for the five heavy weeks 

 of picking, and representing a money value of 

 fully 1,002 in the London market," calculates 

 Mr. Sabonadiere ! 



We have said real returns for labour and capital 

 invested in a Coffee estate only begin in the third 



year. This statement must be modified to the 

 extent of acknowledging thereJsZsometimes ajnajden^ 

 crop,'T~slight^o^2gejierally, though in very good 

 soil and in a dry climate as much as from seven 

 to nine cwt. per acre has been got as first fruits 

 in a second year. This, needless to say, must be 

 picked as it comes ripe ; and if pulping machinery 

 is not yet up on the estate, it may be sold in bulk 

 to some neighbouring, better established planter. 

 I Ib. per. tree is a very paying quantity of 

 Coffee all over an estate ; but as much as 2 Ibs. 

 or even 3 Ibs. are sometimes got, and 5 cwt. 

 per acre is a satisfactory average, though those 

 estates making their happy possessor's fortunes 



