FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 103 



off the trees, whereas the low trees are picked by- 

 standing on the ground. 



Q. What, if any, is the system of manuring adopted 

 in the plantations ? 



A. Manuring is not done extensively, owing 

 principally to the fact that most of the plantations 

 .are young, although there are some that need manure. 

 We use the coffee pulp mixed with cattle manure, 

 also decomposed vegetable matter, wood ashes, the 

 "" compost heap," the earth from the hills made by 

 the white ants (termites), &c., &c. The coffee-tree 

 •^delights in nitrogenous manures. We find surface- 

 manuring best for the coffee-tree, as the fibrous roots 

 ■or feeders keep alwaj'S near the surface. 



Q. Are the plantations kept up permanently, or 

 are they supposed to be cultivable profitably for only 

 a certain limited period ? 



A. We have no very old plantations ; but we 

 believe the plantations can be kept up permanently, 

 •or, at least, for a great number of years. With us, the 

 coffee-plant is not a shrub, it is a forest tree. There 

 •are trees here forty years old, flourishing in all the 

 vigour and verdure of youth, and bending down under 

 their weight of berries. We have seen a few of these 

 ■old trees, when cut down, shoot up more rapidly and 

 more vigorously than when first planted from the seed. 



Q. It is said that the Liberian coffee-tree is liable 

 to have its leaves attacked by a disease which dis- 

 colours them, and causes them to fall prematurely. 



