THE BRAZILIAN PRODUCT. 127 



Coffee-cultiire extends from the Amazon to the province of 

 San Paulo, and from the coast to the western limits of the empire 

 — a surface exceeding 653,400 square kilometres. Within this 

 territory it is estimated that there are about 530,000,000 coffee- 

 trees, which cover an area of 1,400,000 acres. 



The coffee-plantations situated on the high lands, and exposed 

 to the east, are the most productive, but the industry prospers 

 even in the bottom lands, although the product is said to be in- 

 ferior in flavor and aroma. In Brazil the trees are usually planted 

 five feet apart, but in many cases at much wider intervals, large 

 quantities of vegetables, and even grasses, being often raised be- 

 tween the rows. The plant gives its first full crop in its fifth 

 year, and continues to produce until about its twentieth year. In 

 some instances plantations have lasted thirty years, and efforts are 

 now being made to improve the culture so as to lengthen the life 

 of the trees. This is chiefly sought by enriching the ground, 

 and by a better system of raising the young plants, through 

 wliich a more vigorous growth is obtained. During the period 

 of bearing, the tree is calculated to produce, on an average, a total 

 of thirty to forty pounds of clean coffee, although between six 

 and twelve years of age the average is much higher. From the 

 twelfth to the twentieth year the yield is irregular. Formerly 

 small cuttings, taken from the old bushes, were used for the prop- 

 agation of the coffee-tree ; it is now, as in Eastern countries, prin- 

 cipally raised from the seed. On the high lands the gathering of 

 the crop begins in April or May, and continues until ]S"ovember. 

 The " West India process " of separating the pulp, and then wash- 

 ing and drying, prevails on most of the large estates. Much 

 progress seems to have been made, of late years, in the curing of 

 the coffee-bean. Improved machinery has come into use, and 

 much better grades are exported. It is interesting, in this con- 

 nection, to note the following remarks from the pen of Professor 

 Agassi^, written during his stay in Brazil : 



" I have taken pains to ascertain the facts respecting the cul- 

 ture of coffee during the last fifty years. The immense develop- 

 ment of this branch of industry, and the rapidity of the move- 

 ment, especially in a country where labor is so scarce, is among 

 the most striking economical phenomena of our century. Thanks 



