160 COFFEE. 



the nature of the plant efifeots which arise from the accidents of his location or 

 treatment. 



As with all small fruits, the perfection of the coffee-berry depends on a good 

 supply of moisture. In the tropics the principal crops f oUow immediately after 

 the close of the rainy seasons, and if the rain fails the crops are light, as the 

 berries dry up and fall off without ripening. The heavy summer rains in the 

 Southern States would probably come just at the right time. But I should not 

 advise any one to put in coffee on a piece of ground that could not be irrigated, 

 though it is often done. 



Practice varies in regard to the number of plants to the acre. After looking 

 over a plantation, noting the plants in best condition, and making measure- 

 ments, I determined, to my own satisfaction, that the best way, in a cold coun- 

 try, at least, is to plant in rows four yards apart and two yards apart in the 

 row. The branches interlock in the row (which some regard as necessary), and 

 the distance between the rows allows of moving about for cultivating and gath- 

 ering. By trimming, the foliage can be made as open or as crowded as may be 

 deemed best, while the wider spaces between the rows allow of the extension of 

 the branches in that direction if they should be crowded in the other. This 

 gives about 600 plants to the acre. 



The yield is estimated sometimes as low as two pounds to the plant. But 

 the same cultivator who gives me this figure says he is convinced that the in- 

 crease of the yield indefinitely is only a question of improved cultivation. A 

 more usual estimate is three pounds. A Scotchman in the neighborhood, who 

 has brought more intelligence and care to the examination of the matter than 

 any other cultivator here, claims to have plants under special cultivation that 

 yield ten pounds each. This is about the figure claimed for the Liberian plant. 

 No one could foretell what would be the result of transferring the plant to a 

 country where it would have but one bearing season, instead of two, as here ; 

 but it is natural to suppose that it would exert itself with exceptional vigor in 

 that one Season. In all probability the more careful and judicious treatment 

 that it would there receive would produce results even beyond those commonly 

 attained in this country. 



It is claimed that the Liberian plant, and perhaps some others in the 

 hot country, are in full bearing at three years of age. This is not true of the 

 colder country, where they just begin to bear at three years, and attain their 

 maturity at from five to seven years. Here is the chief expense of getting up 

 a plantation. The first investment has to lie unproductive, and the weeds 

 have to be fought unceasingly through these years. When once the plants 

 obtain their growth their shade keeps the weeds down almost without further 

 attention. 



It is usual here to estimate the expense roughly as half the value of the cof- 

 fee. That raised in this neighborhood was sold last year in Bogota or Honda 

 at about twenty cents per pound, and the planters counted that half clear ; 

 that is, they allowed ten cents a pound for expenses. The Scotchman above 

 mentioned has satisfied himself that the cost of ijroduction is but five cents a 

 pound. 



I conclude, then, that coffee can be raised successfully over a large part of 



