COFFEE. 55 



in the neighbourhood of volcanic lands. This kind is frequently 

 found well adapted for coffee ; it nourishes on such land luxur- 

 iantly, but does not last long, as the ground possesses less strength 

 and nourishing substance.* 



By digging in different places we become better acquainted with 

 the nature of the ground, but we may take it as a rule, that rich 

 old forest land on which many larger trees are found, and plains 

 covered with heavy underwood, most frequently offer eligible sites 

 for coffee plantations. 



Grounds in which loam is found, and stony soils, are unfit for 

 coffee. But I do not mean by " stony soils" land on which many 

 stones are lying, for on that very account it may be most suitable ; 

 but I mean land which shows a pebbly stratum just below the 

 surface, or such as is of a porous, stony nature. In the choice of 

 situation care must be taken to select that which is as much as 

 possible protected against the south-east wind, because its dry 

 influence is very injurious to the coffee plant, and also prevents 

 the growth of the JErythrina (known here locally as the Dadap 

 tree) which is so necessary for its shade. Mat grounds, or gentle 

 declivities, are better than steep slopes ; yet the latter can be well 

 employed if proper care is taken. 



Cultivation. After the ground has been cleared in the dry 

 season that is, after the bushes have been rooted out, the under- 

 growth burnt off, and the thickets removed ploughing is com- 

 menced in September. When the ground has twice been deeply 

 ploughed, the weeds and roots must be brought together with the 

 rake and carefully burnt. The depth of the ploughing must be 

 regulated by the nature of the ground. In all kinds of cultivation, 

 deep ploughing is recommended, but in Java we ought not to 

 plough deeper than the stratum of fertile soil, as a kind of subsoil 

 may be wrought uppermost injurious to plants, and which, before 

 it can become fertile, must for a year at least have been exposed 

 to the atmosphere. 



The ground having been turned up, should be left exposed for 

 some days to throw off the vapor arising from it ; and must then 

 be again ploughed and cleared with the rake. After waiting 

 for some days, it should be ploughed for the fourth and last time, 

 and made as clean and friable as possible. In small plantations 

 this is to be done with the* spade, but on large estates the roller 

 must be used. This roller consists of a heavy piece of round wood, 

 eight or ten feet long, to which a pole is fastened in the middle to 

 have oxen harnessed to it. It is drawn slowly over the ploughed 

 land, and presses the clods to earth. To give it greater force, 

 the driver sits or stands upon it. 



Before the field has been properly ploughed and rolled in the 

 above way, the middle of October will have arrived, aud we then 

 begin to open a path through the plantation from the highest to 

 the lowest point, about two roods broad, and the whole of the 



* In the West Indies, from my own experience, I have found this to he one 

 of the worst descriptions of soil. I'.L.S. 



