I02 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



Q. Are distinct varieties of the plant recognised, 

 and if so, to which variety is the preference given as 

 yielding the most profitable crop ? 



A. There is a distinct variety, coming sooner into 

 bearing (i8 months), and giving a smaller berry. But 

 the larger variety is preferred, as yielding a superior 

 coffee, and a larger crop. The larger berry varies 

 somewhat under changed conditions of soil. The 

 same berry which is very large in the moist lowlands 

 becomes a little smaller, but of finer flavour, in the 

 dry rocky hills or uplands. 



Q. Does the same plantation generally contain 

 plants bearing berries of tolerably uniform size, or do 

 some of the trees produce large, and others much 

 smaller berries, or do the berries from the same tree 

 vary much in size .? 



A. The trees on a plantation differ in the size of 

 their berries. Besides, while many contain berries of 

 a uniform size, others will contain berries of various 

 sizes. We are not prepared to say to what extent 

 high cultivation would remedy this. In planting 

 nurseries with seed of a uniform size, we have not 

 been able to obtain plants of a uniform size. 



Q. Does the coffee grow best when fully exposed 

 to the sun, or is a slight shading preferable ; and how 

 are the amount and quality of crop affected by these 

 two systems of cultivation respectively .? 



A. The coffee-tree does not produce well under 

 shade, either in the quantity or the quality of the 



