84 



COFFEE. 



with which they get through their harvesting than in a good result, 

 and much coffee is wasted. 



Besides the Government culture there is a good deal of coffee 

 raised by private growers. 



The tree bears fruit there in the fourth year, and continues to yield 

 up to the fifteenth year or longer. It blossoms generally three times 

 in the year, so that it may be said there are three gatherings of the 

 berry. 



The comparative progress of coffee production in Java is shown 

 by the exports, which were in 



Cwts. Cwtg. 



1829 375 1859 1,195,380 



1839 1,000,000 1869 3,299,000 



The crops were defective from 1864 to 1867. The export has 

 occasionally reached 170,000,000 lbs., and the production is regaining 

 its old footing. The exports, however, include various receipts from 

 the other islands, although shipped under the general designation of 

 Java coffee. 



The sales of Java coffee in Holland in 1873 amounted in value to 

 over 5,000,000Z. 



The quantity of coffee delivered into the Government stores at 

 J ava of late years, has been as follows : 



Year. 



Piculs. 



Average price 

 paid. 



Net sale price 

 in Holland. 







florins. 



florins. 



1869 



962,800 



14-95 



38-76 



1870 



986,038 



14-48 



36-73 



1871 



446,304 



15-97 



39-36 



1872 



985,961 



15-47 



48-36 



1873 



773,920 



15-80 



60-96 



The gross price paid to the natives for the coffee is 26 florins per 

 picul, deducting from these the duty of 10 florins. 



The number of trees in the Government plantations, irrespective 

 of those in the gardens of the native chiefs, was in 1873, 239,079,225. 



According to the report of a Commission of Inquiry submitted to 

 the Second Chamber of the States of the Netherlands in February, 

 1875, the culture of coffee carried on in Java on account of the 

 Government, has remained stationary for forty years, notwithstanding 

 the large quantity of land and labour available, while the consump- 

 tion and value of the product have continued to increase during the 

 period. 



Sumatra. — After Java, Sumatra is the next island which raises coffee 

 in large quantity, and as it has been greatly taken up by the native 

 cultivators, the island may, when the trees planted come into full 

 bearing, yield a considerable crop. The production at present ranges 

 from 13,000,000 to 17,000,000 lbs. The beans are dark brown, occa- 

 sionally black, and the last kind is but of poor quality. 



