82 COFFEE 



Grafting of Liberian on to Arabian coffee has not been successful. 

 The reverse graft, however, is promising. Such plants suffer less 

 from the attacks of parasites than the ungrafted specimens, especially 

 from such an enemj^ as nematode worms which frequentlj^ attack the 

 roots of C. arahica L. but do not attack C. liherica Bull. This, the 

 hardy Liberian Root System and the grafted Arabian plant, pro- 

 duces stems in a very desirable combination (see Fauchere Cult. 

 Prat. Cafeier (1908) text t. 8). 



Liberian seems to have some distinct advantages over Arabian 

 coffee; for the former yields regularly and freely, its fruits do not 

 fall as soon as mature, and it is a much hardier species. The berries 

 are more difficult to clean than the Arabian coffee-berries; but spe- 

 cial machinery will deprive them, of even the parchment. The beans 

 are rank and oily. If carefully and slowly dried, however, they 

 bring a price sufficient to reimburse one for the trouble and expense 

 of the preparation. 



At the present time (1924) Liberian Coffee is considered by the 

 planters of the tropical plains to be superior to Arabian, and is 

 largely grown in India and Java. In America, Arabian coffee still 

 holds its own. The 'pro' and 'con' in regard to Liberian Coffee can 

 be shown by quoting — with a few additions — from Kew Bull. (1890) 

 247-8 as follows: 



( 1 ) It is not susceptible to the fungus, or only in such a way 

 that the health of the tree is but slightly affected; at least, much 

 less so than C. arahica L. 



(2) It is a tree attaining a height up to 9 M. before fifteen 

 3 ears of age; and consequently, it is not injured by drought. 



(3) Judging by trees under cultivation, and the way they continue 

 to grow, and by the fact that they do not begin to bear until 4 to 5 

 years old, this species may be taken as much longer lived. 



(4) It is a heavier bearing tree when once well started; those 

 under the observation of the writer in Kew Bull, for 1890 yielded 

 10 to 20 cwt. per acre. This is considerable when one calculates 

 the amount of clean coffee 5aelded and finds that only 700 trees 

 to the acre can be grown instead of at least double that number of 

 C. arahica L. 



(5) Being deep-rooted, it is not affected by drought, while a very 

 slight shower is quite sufficient to bring out and set the blossom; 



