336 Coffee Culture on tbe Soutbern Coast of Cbiapas, 



These excavations must be dug at right angles with the slope, so 

 that they do not run down the slope but cross it horizontally. Mr. 

 Sabonadiere estimates the cost of these excavations, in ground that is 

 not stony, at about $5.62^ per acre, or 61 cents per cord. 



There is another system of making these trenches which is more 

 costly. It consists in digging a trench two feet wide and two feet deep, 

 the whole length of the furrows, the bottom of the trench being made as 

 level as possible. This trench is filled with grass, dry leaves, branches 

 of trees, or any other vegetable substance that may be at hand ; it is 

 then filled in with earth which is pressed down compactly. The result 

 is that the roots of the trees spread out to the trench and penetrate the 

 vegetable matter in it which is becoming converted into soil. 



d. Loosening the Earth. In places where the earth is very compact, 

 and fertilizers are used, the ground is dug up in order that the roots of 

 the trees may be able to reach out more easily in search of the manure. 

 It has been observed in some places that manuring does not produce 

 results as favorable to the coffee-tree as digging up the ground. This 

 latter should be done, however, only in ground that has been manured 

 and that is provided with drains, for otherwise the loosened soil would 

 be easily washed away by the rains. 



The cost of loosening the earth, according to this system, is in 

 Ceylon $5 per acre, or a little more than 54 cents per cord. 



There is another method of loosening the earth, which consists in 

 moving it about gently in every direction with a species of iron pitch- 

 fork. In this case care must be taken not to turn up the soil, other- 

 wise the rains would wash it away. 



Loosening the earth contributes also to prevent the soil from being 

 washed away, for, being loose, it readily absorbs the rain. 



e. Making Ridges. With the object also of preventing the rains 

 from carrying away the richest part of the soil, ridges are formed in 

 some of the estates in Ceylon, with the earth dug out of the trenches, 

 which, directing the course of the rain-water, cause it to carry the earth 

 which it washes out into the trenches. 



This system has been used with success on several estates. 



/. Irrigating. In localities where the rains are not abundant, or 

 where the ground does not retain sufficient moisture for the nutrition 

 of the coffee-tree during the dry season, it is indispensable to establish 

 a system of irrigation which, applied opportunely and with moderation, 

 will make the tree thrive and will keep it in better condition than when 

 it depends entirely on the rains. 



g. Enemies of the Coffee- Tree. The coffee-tree has in Ceylon many 

 enemies which frequently destroy it, and which it is necessary to make 

 war upon at a considerable expense of time and money. The chief of 

 these are the following: 



