JAMAICA. 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



New Series.] DECEMBER, 1895. 



Part 12. 



NOTES ON COFFEE FROM LABORIE'S COFFEE 



PLANTER. 



SITUATION. 



Climate. — Coffee trees delight in the cool climate of the mountains, 

 up to 4,50Q feet, where the rain is abundant all the year round, alter- 

 nating with bright sunshine. On the lower mountains, especially where 

 they are subject to dry sea breezes, the berries will often be empty, 

 mildewed, or scorched, and the tree short-lived. 



Soil. — The best soil is a free, open virgin soil, four or five feet deep. 

 On steep slopes the soil should be firm, but not clayey, mixed with a 

 proportion of sand, gravel, or small stones through which water may 

 easily pass. Even on white limestone, if the climate is rainy, coffee will 

 flourish where the rocks are mixed with deep soil. 



The indigenous vegetation is useful as a guide to richness of soil. As 

 a rule, where the trees are large, high, and numerous, and the under- 

 wood luxuriant, the soil is good, but the exceptions are mahogany, 

 hardwoods, and the cabbage palm, which may indicate poverty of soil. 



It is important to have plenty of running water. 



Aspect. — In low and hot places, the best aspects are the north and 

 west, because they are cooler. On the contrary, the east and south are 

 the best in the highest situations. Strong winds are very injurious. 



CULTIVATION. 



Distance. — The quality and aspect of the ground ought to be the 

 ruling guides to determine the distance of the trees from each other. The 

 general rules are as follows : — 



(a) The richer the soil, the aspect being the same, the more distant 

 must be the trees. 



(b) The cooler the aspect, the quality of the soil being the same, the 

 further asunder the trees must be planted. 



(c) If on the north and west the ground is good, plant still farther. 

 If, on the contrary, in the east or south it is light, plant still nearer. In 

 both cases there is a double reason, namely, the quality and the aspect. 



Accordingly, if to the south and east you plant at six feet, the quali- 

 ty of the ground being the same, plant at seven to the west and north, 

 if the descent is steep ; or at six by seven if it is easy, (the greater dis- 

 tance being between the rows), for where the descent is steep, the higher 

 trees cast a longer shade upon those below. 



