110 COFFEE. 



before those interested in the subject facts which may prove of 

 value in dealing with the propagation and distribution of this 

 promising plant. The seeds of Liberian coffee enclosed within 

 their investing coats are generally two in number ; when one seed, 

 as is sometimes the case, becomes abortive, the other seed receiv- 

 ing all the nourishment of the berry, becomes large and rounded, 

 and is termed a "pea bean." "When the pulp is removed, the 

 seed covered by the hard brittle shell, the indurated endocarp, is 

 technically termed a " pyrene ; " there are, therefore, two " py- 

 renes " in each perfect berry. The " pyrene " is convex on the 

 back, iiat, with a narrow, usually deep longitudinal furrow on the 

 face. If the hard shell investing the pyrene, the " parchment," 

 be removed, we expose what is generally called "rice coffee." 

 Carefully examined, the structures which make up the rice coffee 

 or seeds are resolved into a membranous testa or coat of the seed, 

 the " silver skin," a homy folded mass termed the albumen, and 

 embedded in the substance of the latter, near its base, a small 

 body called the embryo, the miniature Liberian coffee tree, not 

 more than one-third inch in length. Botanists classify the different 

 parts of a fruit like the coffee berry as follows : (1) the outer skin 

 of the berry is termed the ejyicarp / (2) the pulpy mass between 

 the skin and the parchment is the mesocarp / (3) the indurated 

 shell called the " parchment " is botanically the endocarp / (4) the 

 "silver skin," which comes next to the parchment, is. the testa or 

 integument of the seed ; (5) the mass of the coffee bean under the 

 " silver skin " is the albumen / (6) and contained in the albumen, 

 embedded near its base, is the minute embryo. The first, second, 

 and third structures in this series belong to ihe fruit, whereas the 

 others — ^viz., the testa, the albumen, and the embryo — are essen- 

 tially parts of the seed. The uses of the various structures which 

 surround the minute embryo are to protect it from injury, and, at 

 the same time, to supply it with suitable nourishment till such 

 time as it is able to take care of itself. Most people are familiar 

 with the gray pearly " silver skin " which forms the outer cover- 

 ing or testa of the coffee bean. It envelops every part of the 

 albumen, follows its foldings, and dips into the deep furrow on the 

 face. By its tough, leathery nature it acts as an effectual protec- 

 tion to the delicate structures within. Before the bean is roasted 



