112 COFFEE. 



ninety-eight per cent, will germinate, and at least ninety-four per 

 cent, will develop into fine trees. As in other seeds, it is neces- 

 sary, in order to produce germination, that they receive the proper 

 amount of moisture, heat, and air. The moisture required should 

 be supplied by moderate but uniform watering, night and morn- 

 ing. Excess of water will have an injurious effect upon the young 

 plants, and render them weak and sickly. The best soil for rais- 

 ing seeds is a mixture of loam and leaf -mould, or earth produced 

 by rotten leaves, sifted and mixed with an equal volume of sand ; 

 the sand keeps the loam from adhering together when watered, 

 and allows excess of water to drain off, while the loam retains as 

 much water in the cavities of the soil as is required for the purposes 

 of germination. Jungle soil, well sifted and mixed with an equal 

 proportion of sand, generally forms an excellent soil for young 

 plants. The seeds may be sown in deep boxes, or in beds formed 

 in the open air. In any case, a good depth of soil is necessary, 

 for even in a very young seedling the tap-roots are extremely 

 long, and they require an abundant supply of good, rich soil to 

 keep up their growth. 



" The plants should be grown in partial shade or covered by 

 thatched hurdles or "cadjans;" care should be taken not to 

 cover them up too much ; when established, the protection should 

 be very gradually removed, according as the plants indicate their 

 ability to bear the effects of light and sunshine. For transplant- 

 ing purposes bamboo pots, baskets, or cow-dung pots may be used. 

 "Where easily obtained, bamboo pots are strongly recommended ; 

 they afford every protection for the tap-roots, and at the same 

 time supply them with a good depth of soil. The cow-dung pots 

 require more care in making, and, on young estates, the material 

 may not easily be obtained; but, where it is possible to make 

 them, they are superior to anything else for transplanting pur- 

 poses. Once the young plant is established in the cow-dung pot 

 it is safe, for, when buried in the soil, the material of the pot be- 

 comes softened by moisture, and is easily penetrated by the roots, 

 thus forming a protection for the roots when handled, and ulti- 

 mately a valuable manure to the plant. 



" Seeds of Liberian coffee appear to take a longer time to ger- 

 minate than the ordinary coffee. Seeds sown on January 2d ap- 



