SUB-VARIETIES. 37 



the Embryo. The first of these structures, that is, the epi- 

 carp, mesocarp and endocarp, belong to the fruit or berry, 

 the other three, that is, the testa, albumen and embryo, being 

 essentially parts of the seed or bean. The uses of these 

 various structures surrounding the embryo are to protect 

 it from injury and at the same time supply it with proper 

 nourishment until such time as it is enabled to take care of 

 itself. The testa or silver-skin enveloping every part of 

 the albumen, following and dipping into the furrow on 

 the face of the Coffee bean by its tough, leatherly nature, 

 acts as an effectual protection to the delicate structures con- 

 tained within. The albumen, bearing the same relation 

 to the bean that flour does to wheat, the white-meat to 

 cocoanut, and the aromatic, ruminated secretion to the 

 nutmeg. It is a secretion, found in the internal of the 

 seed, enveloping the embryo plant, and for the support 

 of which it is destined when it first begins to germinate. 

 Each perfect Coffee berry should contain two such 

 oval seeds, placed facing each other, the flat sides oppo- 

 site ; but it frequently occurs that only one seed forms, 

 the other becoming abortive, and variously known as 

 "virgin" "male" or "pea-berry." Coffee seeds are 

 generally termed " beans " in commerce, a term not 

 derived from any resemblance they may have to a bean ; 

 while, again, they are termed by many as " berries," the 

 latter term being applicable only to the fruit or pod, the 

 term " bean " being more appropriate to the seed. 



According to some botanists, there is but one genus 

 of the Coffee plant, — Coffca Arqbica, — others, again, 

 contending that there are two separate and distinct 

 species, classified as Coffea Oricntalis and Coffca Occiden- 

 talis. While admitting but one genus, the difference in 



