COFFEE. 77 



for the whole island, were, in 1840, 2,197,771 arrobas ; in 1841, 

 1,260,920| arrobas. 



In 1847 there were 2,064 plantations under cultivation with 

 coffee in Cuba, in 1846 there were only 1,670. The production 

 of 1849 was 1,470,754 arrobas, valued at 2,206,131 dollars. 

 From the year 1841 to 1846, the average yearly production was 

 45,236,100'lbs. ; but from 1846 to 1851, it was only 19,206,100 Ibs. ; 

 showing a falling off of 72 per cent. ; the production still further 

 decreased in 1851, it being only 13,004,350 Ibs., or 1.52 per cent, 

 less than the preceding year. This enormous decline in the pro- 

 duction of coffee has been caused by the low price of the article 

 in the markets of Europe and the United States, coupled with the 

 more remunerative price of sugar, during the same period ; causing 

 capitalists rather to invest money in the formation of new sugar 

 estates. As a consequence, many coffee plantations have been 

 turned into cane cultivation; or, being abandoned, the slaves 

 attached thereto were sold or leased to sugar planters. 



The following is private information from a correspondent : 

 " We generally plant about 200,000 trees within a space of 500 feet, choosing 

 the strongest soil. I have adopted a different system from the one generally in 

 use here, for they usually plant the trees too near each other. I find hy 



fiving them space and air, that the plant develops itself and yields more 

 eans. It is very important to protect the trees from the rays of the sun, for 

 which purpose I plant bananas at intermediate rows ; their broad leaves, like 

 parasols, shed a delightful shade round the coffee plant, and tend to accumulate 

 the moisture which strengthens the roots of the young tree. 



When the tree is about two years old the top branches are lopped off for the 

 purpose of throwing the sap into the bean. Some planters cut the trees so 

 short, that they do not allow them to stand more than five or six feet above the 

 ground ; but I allow mine to attain greater height prior to lopping them, 

 whereby they produce larger crops. Nor do I allow my negroes to beat the 

 trees, or force them to pluck a certain quantity a day, for I discovered that 

 they picked the ripe and unripe beans indiscriminately frequently injuring the 

 trees. I only allow them to shake the tree, and pick up the beans that have 

 fallen during the night." 



Coffee exports from the ports of Havana and Matanzas, in 

 Cuba, for the years ending December in 



Quintals. 

 1839 .... 344,725 



1840 

 1841 

 1842 

 1843 

 1844 



402,135 

 212,767 

 314,191 

 223,265 

 186,349 



Quintals. 



1845 42,409 



1846 .... 65,045 



1847 106,904 



1848 .... 31,674 



1849 .... 92,974 

 1852 42,510 



Porto Eico exported 85,384 cwt. of coffee in 1839. 



Africa. Coffee will require some four years to grow before it 

 will give to the cultivator any income, but it should be known 

 that after that time the tree, with little or no labor bestowed on 

 it, will yield two crops a year. The quality of coffee grown in 

 the republic of Liberia, on the western coast of Africa, is pro- 

 nounced by competent judges to be equal to any in the world. 

 In numerous instances, trees full of coffee, are seen at only three 

 years old. 214 casks and bags of coffee were imported from the 

 western coast of Africa in 1846. 



