56 SHELTER AND SHADE. 



In estimating the value and importance of exposures, 

 planters and others of experience are frequently deceived ; 

 as aspects that one would naturally conclude are very much 

 exposed often remain untouched by the wind, while on 

 others apparently sheltered it has been known to burst 

 with tremendous force. Of aspects as regards wind there 

 are two points that may fairly be relied upon. The first 

 is the appearance of the soil on the slopes, and the second 

 the inchnation of the forest trees. The soils on windy 

 slopes will be found invariably to present a hardened and 

 washed appearance, and are deficient in decayed vegetable 

 matter on the surface. The inclination of the trees, 

 also, and especially the extent to which their heads are 

 bent, denotes how forcibly the wind strikes on these sites. 

 In summing up on these important points of aspect it 

 may be observed, as regards the sun's rays, it is patent 

 that a northern aspect is the best, and a southern one 

 the worst, because the latter is exactly twice as hot as 

 the former. And as regards the eastern and western 

 aspects there is not, as regards heat arising from the 

 sun's rays, much to choose between them. 



The worst enemy of the Coffee shrub is wind, its effects 

 becoming apparent in pinched and stunted growth or in 

 lack of foliage. In situations where the soil is soft and 

 yielding it does equal mischief by working the stems in 

 the ground, so that in a short time a funnel is formed 

 round the neck of the plant, and this being continually 

 chafed the bark is worn off, the roots are loosened, and 

 the plant dies of what is called " wind-wrung." Should 

 it be rescued before the bark is entirely worn off the 

 plant may live, but it will be extremely liable to attacks 



