ITS NATURAL HISTORY. 19 



The seeds of the plant are borne in pods, represented in the 

 illustrations on pages 17 and 18, the former taken from one of 

 the early works on the subject. No. 1 in the first engraving ex- 

 hibits the ripened pod, 5 and 6 the fruits in different stages of 

 growth. No. 2 shows the pod cut open and displays some of the 

 seeds, while 3 and 4 are the seeds themselves, — the former in 

 its natural state, the latter with the seed-coats removed. 



The pod is irregular and angular, much like some forms of 

 cucumbers, but more pointed at the lower extremity, and more 

 distinctly grooved. It measures in length nine inches to a 

 foot, or even more, and about half as much in diameter. The 

 color, when young, is green, becoming later dark yellow or yellow- 

 ish brown. The rind is thick and tough. The pod is filled with 

 closely packed " beans," or seeds, imbedded in a mass of cellular 

 tissue, sometimes of pleasant subacid taste. The seeds are about 

 as large as ordinary almonds, whitish when fresh, and of a dis- 

 agreeable bitter taste. When dried they become brown. 



The fruits are about four months in ripening; but they appear 

 and mature the whole year through. In point of fact, however, 

 there are chief harvests, usually in early spring, but this is different 

 for different countries. 



The following extract from a comparatively recent consular 

 report gives a clear idea of the modern method of cultivating 

 the plant in some parts of South America. The extract was 

 given in our former edition, but it is thought best to tran- 

 scribe it here. 



"The tree grows to the average height of thirteen feet, and from 

 five to eight inches in diameter, is of spreading habit and healthy 

 growth, and although requiring much more care and attention than 

 the coffee-tree, yet its equally reliable crops require comparatively 

 little labor in properly preparing for the market. 



