38 SHADE IN COFFEE CULTUEE. 



Apparently the most intelligent and authoritative statement regard- 

 ing coffee culture in the United States of Colombia is that of Mr. 

 Robert Thompson, published in the reports of the British Foreign 

 Office for 1895. In that country coffee culture has been greatly 

 extended within the last decade, even in districts from 600 to 800 miles 

 from the coast, necessitating heavy transportation expenses before the 

 crop can reach export markets. But notwithstanding an outlay of 

 this kind, often amounting to 2 or 3 cents a pound, production was 

 considered extremely profitable until the general fall in prices 

 occurred. Land at $5 to $8 per acre is cheaper than in Porto Rico, 

 but labor is nearly as expensive, and would perhaps be more costly 

 were it not for the depreciation of the currency. Mr. Thompson was 

 also familiar with the coffee industry of Jamaica, and his statement 

 contains comparative figures likely to be of interest in Porto Rico, in 

 addition to an account of a very interesting series of leguminous trees 

 planted with coffee at different elevations: 



The number of coffee trees planted per hectare (2 J acres) in Colombia averages 

 about 1,500. The general average yield per tree per annum on well-kept plantations 

 is 1J pounds, or 2,250 pounds per hectare (900 pounds per acre). On many other 

 plantations the average yearly crop does not exceed 1 pound per tree (600 pounds 

 per acre). Thus the number of trees planted per acre in this country strikingly con- 

 trasts with the number planted in British colonies, where twice as many are planted 

 per acre; notwithstanding heavier crops are secured in Colombia. In the palmy days 

 of coffee cultivation in Ceylon the average production was 5 cwt. per acre. 



One of the chief elements of success appertaining to this cultivation in Colombia 

 must be assigned to the systematic interplanting of shade trees with the coffee. At 

 altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 feet more densely foliaged shade trees are em- 

 ployed than is the case on plantations between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, where a slender 

 shade is afforded by a species of Cassia. The shade trees utilized on plantations situ- 

 ated between 3,000 and 5,000 feet are a species of Erythrina and another leguminous 

 tree, a species of Inga, which latter is becoming very generally adopted by planters. 

 I would strongly recommend this Inga for adoption by British colonial coffee planters, 

 as it is most admirably adapted for the purpose. It grows rapidly, and the large 

 compound leaves fall abundantly at the season in which the plantation requires the 

 least degree of shade, whilst the abundance of fallen leaves from this tree check in a 

 very marked manner the irrepressible growth of weeds. Moreover, the general result 

 of the beneficial influence of this congenial shade reduces to a minimum all cultural 

 expenses; indeed, it may be safely computed that the good offices of this tree curtail 

 the cost of actual cultivation to the extent of some 50 per cent as compared with 

 coffee devoid of shade. It is a remarkable fact that British colonial coffee planters 

 have in the main ignored the application of shade to the coffee tree. Without shade 

 the tree certainly flourishes, but its full exposure to the sun, at any rate as the sun is 



and on the mainland is "Madre de Cacao," and the belief exists that it furnishes 

 moisture to the roots of the cacao. 



It has been determined by scientists that all trees belonging to this order have the 

 power of supplying nitrogen to the soil or making it available for other crops, and it 

 is quite possible that in this capacity the tree acts as a real Madre de Cacao. 



I <lo not wish, however, to enter into a discussion as to the value of either the 

 "Madera" or the ''Bois Immortel" any further than to state that I believe the 

 former is well worthy of trial by our cacao planters, and as it will be distributed free 

 of cost I hope to procure a good record of the trials. 



