COFFEE. 



61 



vouring to inculcate. Let anyone, or everyone, however, doubt my 

 assertions to any extent he or they may please ; but let the system be 

 fairly tried and I shall have no fear of the result. 



To obtain the large returns from each tree, as above estimated, the 

 following rules should be carefully attended to in every particular : 



1. Choose a good and fertile soil, containing a tolerable quantity 

 of decayed vegetable matter, and having a generous subsoil, which is 

 naturally well drained. Moreover, be careful that this patch of land 

 enjoys the advantage of the morning's sun. 



2. Pick out strong and vigorous young coffee plants, which take 

 up, if possible, without breaking their roots, and with the earth around 

 them ; but if this cannot be done, then put the young plants into water, 

 immediately they are taken up from the nursery, and keep their roots 

 immersed until they are planted out in the field. Allow 700 plants to 

 the acre. 



3. Let the ground be in a tolerably moist condition, and see that 

 the weather is moderately rainy. 



4. Prepare holes (varying from 12 to 24 inches in diameter) with 

 well-rotted vegetable manure, and finely pulverized earth, into which 

 place the young plants carefully, and fill up the holes, so as to leave 

 no hollows wherein water may lodge. 



5. Be sure that these young plants are fully shaded, yet enjoy light 

 and fresh air in abundance. As a shade, plantain, banana, or cocoa- 

 nut trees answer admirably, and at the same time their produce is 

 very profitable. 



6. During the early stages of their growth the young trees should 

 never be choked by weeds, but should be well attended to, and (when- 

 ever appearing) any dead wood must be removed by hand. 



7. All suckers and undesirable shoots ought to be destroyed imme- 

 diately they appear ; and when the trees have arrived at a sufficient 

 height their tops should be pinched off to stay their further growth 

 upward. 



8. Each tree must at all stages of its growth be kept open, so as to 

 ensure plenty of air and light penetrating throughout every part of it, 

 and consequently no matting of the branches can be permitted, nor 

 the growth of moss on the trunk, or on any of the branches. 



9. The trees should be carefully pruned whenever they require it, 

 so as to keep them open, and to preserve that portion of the wood only 

 which will bear fruit abundantly, and of good quality. 



10. Dig in manure around the roots of the tree, not close to the 

 trunk, but in a circle as wide as the branches extend, that the roots, 

 as they grow, may find a store of nutriment. The rule must be — 

 manure well, but alv/ays dig that manure in about the roots of the 

 plant. 



11. The choice of manure must become a study, in order to give 

 those kinds only which will exercise a particular effect on the tree. 

 Highly stimulating manure is sure to occasion the growth of a quan- 

 tity of useless young wood and numerous cross suckers, which are 

 often denominated gormandizers, and these are both very injurious to 

 the tree. Only that kind of manure is desirable which will supply 

 the requisite material for the formation of vigorous and healthy young 



