HAYTI AND SAN DOMINGO. 



14S 



the northern limit of the coffee-growing belt. The country is 

 mountainous, its elevated ranges being capable of cultivation 

 nearly to their summits. The climate is especially well adapted 

 to the growth of the coffee tree, the cultivation of which is being 

 extended in the eastern part of the island, called St. Domingo, in 

 contradistinction to the French or western part, which comprises 

 the republic of Hayti. The many and rapid political changes, 

 which have been more or less of a revolutionary character, have 

 tended to retard the development of coffee-plantations. The cul- 

 tivation of the tree is principally carried on by the natives, who 

 are so careless in the preparation of the bean that much of the 

 product comes to market very stony and dirty, thus reducing its 

 value far below the standard which its drinking qualities would 

 otherwise ensure. Improved machineiy is employed to a very 

 limited extent. Efforts are being put forth to induce an exten- 

 sion of coffee-culture, and to secure greater care in preparing the 

 coffee for market, with a design to regain the ground lost during 

 years of civil commotion. The bulk of the crop goes to Europe, 

 and a considerable part of that received here is re-exported thither, 

 where it is carefully picked over, selected, and graded. It reaches 

 market in all sorts of bags, the buyer receiving actual tare. The 

 bean is larger than the Rio bean, approaching very closely in style 

 to ordinary Jamaica. In color it varies, some of it being classed 

 with what is termed white coffee. The receipts of St. Domingo 

 coffee at the port of New York have been for ten years as follows : 



Importation of St. Domingo Coffee into the United States {At- 

 Icmtio Coast), 1866 to 1881. 



1866. 

 1867. 

 1868. 

 1869. 

 1870. 

 1871. 

 1872., 

 •1873.. 



Bags. 



42,236 

 75,583 

 112,165 

 97,923 

 135,348 

 146,075 

 171,330 



Tons. 



2,450 

 4,383 

 6,509 

 5,684 

 7,275 

 8,478 

 9.939 



Average for fifteen years, 1866-1881 83,418 bags, 4,836 tons. 



Average for ten years, 1871-80 93,969 " 5,463 " 



