330 Coffee Culture on tbe Soutbern Coast ot Cbiapas, 



some of the secondary branches are to be cut off, choosing those that 

 grow out of the natural direction, care being taken not to touch the 

 primary branches. 



This last rule should be followed, according to Laborie, only with 

 trees in high lands and exposed to cold winds, these being generally 

 full of branches and leaves. The twigs at the top, which run in every 

 direction, are first to be taken off, then such of the larger branches as 

 are crooked are cut off; and, finally, if the top or leader should be 

 decayed, this decayed part is to be cut off. 



All the primary branches that have kept their natural direction are 

 to be left, for the reason mentioned above, that, once cut, they do not 

 grow again. If they should be split or injured in any way, however, 

 it would be better to cut them off. The same thing is to be done 

 when they have taken a wrong direction, only the part being then cut 

 that deviates from the natural direction. 



In very cold localities, or when the trees produce very little fruit, 

 because of their having too many branches, all the secondary branches 

 are to be cut off, with the object of making new ones grow which shall 

 bear fruit, and of giving a right direction to the sap. 



When the primary branches have grown so long that they become 

 interlaced with those of the neighboring trees, enough of them is to be 

 cut off to prevent the branches from meeting. 



After the tree has been pruned, any moss or parasites growing on 

 its trunk are to be removed, using a wooden knife for the purpose. 



System of Sabonadttre. The vertical shoots that first spring from 

 the trunk of the tree should be taken off as they appear, without in- 

 juring the bark of the tree. Afterwards other shoots, as many as four 

 in each bud, grow on the primary branches, in different directions. It 

 will be advisable to remove these also, excepting one only in each 

 branch, preferring that which is most vigorous and has the best direc- 

 tion. This operation is to be repeated every year, and will render 

 pruning, properly speaking, or the removal of thick branches already 

 formed which have some defects, unnecessary. 



No secondary branch is to be left within six inches of the trunk, so 

 that a vacant space, in the shape of a circle a foot in diameter, may be left 

 around the trunk of the tree, in order that air and sunlight may circulate 

 around it freely and prevent the growth on it of moss and parasites. 



If the plantations are small the best system of pruning is to allow 

 alternate secondary branches to fructify each year; that is, to cut 

 those that have borne fruit one year, and leave those that have not 

 borne fruit: but in large plantations it is difficult to follow this system, 

 and in them the following rules should be observed: 



i. To pull up all the shoots that are within a distance of six. 

 inches of the trunk of the tree. 



