8o 



the same way that analine ink penetrates the gelatine slab used for 

 copying letters. If prompt measures are not adopted, not only 

 will the parchment be permanently discoloured but the silver skin 

 below will be stained and firmly gummed on to the seed. If ob- 

 served in time, the remedy consists of getting the fruit pulped as 

 soon as possible, in closely watching the subsequent fermentation, 

 and having the parchment thoroughly washed as soon as the gum 

 has changed into a state in which it can be acted upon by water. 

 In warm, rainy weather similar changes occur in very ripe cherry 

 before it is picked from the trees. Some pulpers do not work 

 satisfactorily and allow a large quantity of skins and half-pulped 

 cherry to pass into the cistern along with the parchment. If these 

 are not properly separated before fermentation takes place, the 

 seeds they contain will be more or less foxy. The ripest, richest, 

 and most succulent fruit is always the first to suffer in this way, or 

 from any delay occuring in " picking, pulping, or preparation." 



Last season, in his desire to enhance the quality of his' coffee, 

 a proprietor hereabouts allowed his coffee to get dead, or purple, 

 ripe on the trees before picking it, and, to his thundering surprise, 

 it was reported on from the coast as foxy. Now, his coffee had 

 never before been reported as foxy. His surprise was even greater 

 when he was told that the "foxiness" had probably been produced 

 by his allowing the fruit to become over-ripe on the trees before 

 gathering it. On the other hand, on a neighbouring estate, the 

 coffee, which had previously to last season been nearly always 

 pronounced foxy, was that season singularly free of " foxiness ". 

 This was attributed to a uniformity of shade over the place which 

 seems to have been attained for the first time in 1898-99, but the 

 " trick " seems to have been done by washing the coffee twelve 

 hours after pulping it, the pulphouse having a position facing 

 southwest, and the aspect of the estate being throughout nearly the 

 same. The obvious precautions which suggest themselves from the 

 foregoing are. — 



(1) To avoid, as far as possible, allowing the berries to become 



dead, or purple, ripe on the trees. They should be picked 

 as uniformly red-ripe as possible. A spot of green on 

 the outside pulp will make no difference, the bean being 

 nearly always matured before the pericarp has been fully 

 coloured. 



(2) To pulp the coffee as soon after taking in as possible. The 



operations of pulping and measuring might go on 

 simultaneously. Some power more expeditious than cat- 

 tle-power is desirable in this connection. 



(3) To pulp as cleanly as possible. If pulpers are not working 



satisfactorily, this must be done with the aid of a sieve, 

 the skins and half-pulped cherry being passed through 

 the pulpers a second time. 



(4) To wash the coffee as soon the mucilage is ready to be 



acted on by water. This can be determined by experi- 

 ment. For the rest, trust in Providence. I trust that 

 this small contribution on the question will promote a 



