THE PLANT ANB ITS CULTUEB. 7 



clierry, shows that it consists of five different parts, covering the 

 two beans, whicli lie within, face to face. First, we find the outer 

 slcin, very similar to that which surrounds the cranberry or cherry. 

 Second, we have a soft pulp enclosed by and adhering to the out- 

 side covering. The removal of the two first reveals a third coat- 

 ing, which consists of a soft glutinous substance, strongly saccharine 

 in its character. The fourth part is a sort of envelope, called by 

 some the parchment. It is rather tough and somewhat thicker 

 than the husk of wheat. It is of a yellowish-white color, and is 

 easily removed by fi'iction. IS'ext to the parchment there is 

 found a thin gossamer iilm, designated in Ceylon " silver-skin " 

 and in Brazil the peTgomivnho, and in appearance resembling the 

 thin skin which covers the white onion designated " silver-skin." 



Picking begins in Java in January and lasts thz-ee or four 

 months. The chief part of the Ceylon crop is gathered from 

 April to July. A small crop, chiefly young coffee, is picked from 

 September to December. In Brazil they commence gathering 

 the crop in April or May, the work continuing until September. 

 Women and children are largely employed in gathering the fruit, 

 carrying it from the field in baskets to the mill house or terrace, 

 where the preparation of the berry for market commences. 



