145 



LIBERIAN COFFEE. 



In the Bulletin for January, 1894, the subject of Liberian Coffee was 

 brought to the attention of planters, with the result that the applications 

 received for plants have been larger than the Gardens have been able to 

 deal with, on account of the notice being short ; one planter has ordered 

 40,000 plants. It is expected that all orders can be satisfied in time 

 for the October rains, but applications should be sent in at once, and 

 will be dealt with strictly in rotation. In consequence of the large 

 number of plants ordered all at one time, the price has been reduced to 

 ^d. each plant, or 4s. per 100. The following information about the 

 market value of this kind of Coffee in New York was furnished to the 

 Governor by Messrs. Gillespie Bros. & Co : — 



" We are in receipt of your letter of the 8th inst , asking for informa- 

 tion as to the prospects of Liberian Coffee iu this market, and beg to 

 report as follows : — 



" The article is coming more into use of late, and from what we can 

 gather, supplies which at present come to this market are well competed 

 for. It is a grade of coffee noted for its large bean, which is a very de- 

 sirable feature for this market. The great and vital objection to its 

 general use, however, is its very strong and rank flavour. This, to any- 

 one of cultivated taste, is most objectionable. The principal consump- 

 tion here has been in the Southern and Western States, where tastes 

 are less exacting, and it is there used to add to the appearance of unat- 

 tractive samples, or to strengthen the flavour of others. 



" So far, the demand has kept up and been rather in excess of supplies ; 

 but whether its use will extend when these become more ample, as they 

 promise to, is a very doubtful question 



" The article arrives here from several quarters chiefly from Africa 

 and J ava. The African is considered the genuine, and is of a less sightly 

 appearance, stronger flavoured than that coming from Java, where the 

 soil seems to have especially modified the flavour. In Java it has been 

 grown most successfully on land which had been exhausted by ordinary 

 coffee. Four yeais ago, the crop there was about 500 piculs ; this year 

 it is expected to reach 9,000 piculs ; and as cultivation is being ext ended 

 in four years from now it is expected to reach 72,000 piculs. 



" The value to day of ordinary African Liberian coffee is 18 J c. to 19c. 

 per lb. ; of Java Liberian coffee 20c. per lb. To-day's value of ordinary 

 Jamaica is 16Jc. to 17c. per lb. We have found it difficult to ascertain 

 the exact receipts in this country, for the reason that supplies come both 

 direct and via London ; but brokers who deal in the article estimate 

 last year's receipts at about 10,000 bags. 



" We have no doubt the article can be successfully grown in Jamaica, 

 as it is reported to be a very hardy plant, thriving in low-lying soil ; 

 but whether its production on a large scale would prove a commer- 

 cial success depends largely on what effect the soil has on it. If it 

 modifies its natural rank flavour, and at the same time the beans are 

 large, well formed, and sightly, no doubt it wodd meet with favour in 

 this market ; but until this has been ascertained we cannot give a posi- 

 tive opinion. We doubt very much if the ordinary rank flavoured 

 growth will increase very much in general favour, but until its produc- 

 tion is considerably extended, so as to overtake the present demand, it 

 may be considered a staple article." 



