104 COErEE. 



In the spring of 1873 the first Liberian coffee plants were set 

 out in Ceylon by Mr. L. St. George Carey. The honor of plant- 

 ing the first seed is claimed by a Mr. Massey, who as early as 

 1866 made an misuccessful attempt to raise plants from native 

 seed. One of the parchment beans he had at that time measnred 

 one and one-eighth inch in length. 



In 1876 there were thirteen estates in Ceylon cultivating Libe- 

 rian coffee, with two hundred and forty-one acres planted. It seems 

 specially adapted to the low lands, but will not flourish at as high 

 an elevation as Coffcea Arabica, which thrives from five thou- 

 sand to six thousand feet above sea level ; while its competitor 

 floTirishes from sea level to five hundred feet higher in Liberia. 

 It is hoped that a hybrid will be secured which will do well be- 

 tween one thousand and three thousand feet above sea-level. 



