514 



MIXOR PRODUCTS OF CEYLOX 



B:azil, West Indies, South India, Java, etc. According to the late 

 DR. TRIMEX the Arabian Coffee was first introduced into Ceylon 

 in 1690, by Arabian traders. Coffee cultivation in Ceylon may be 

 slid to have hrst begun, on an important scale, in 1825, when 

 Ganaroowa Estate ( now Government Experiment Station ) was 

 opened as the first upland plantation. In 1869 a serious fungus 

 disease ( Hemeleia vast air ix), known as the "Coffee-leaf disease," 

 appeared, and spread with alarming rapidity until in a few years it 

 devastated the whole industry and ruined many planters. The 

 export from Ceylon consequently dropped from nearly one million 



FIELD OF ARAHIAX COFFEE, UNDER SHADE, IX NIUilRIS, S. IXDIA. 



cwt. in 1874 to 1,040 cwt. in 1909, and to 156 cwt. in 1912 valued 

 at about 566. No\v, however, with better prices and larger yields 

 obtainable ( especially from C. robust a ), the prospects of Coffee 

 cultivation in Ceylon are improving, more particularly as a catch- 

 er intercrop with Rubber, Coconuts, etc., and at present about 

 900 acres are under the product. 



Coffee requires a moderately humid atmosphere, and prefers 

 deep loamy and well-drained soil ; it is unsuited to stiff clayey or 

 poor sandy soils. The most suitable climate for the Arabian coffee 



