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knowledge of the natural shape of the tree. Thus, only two branches 

 should be allowed at each knot ; in all cases taking care to prefer such 

 as have the most natural and horizontal direction. The knife should 

 not be used now, but if any twigs have escaped notice which should have 

 been removed, they can be cut off after 2 or 3 months, when they are 

 5 or 6 inches long. 



Manure. — It is necessary to provide manure to help those trees that 

 show signs of decay. 



The dung of all kinds of animals, the sweepings of pens, houses, 

 kitchen, poultry and pigeon houses ; the leaves and trunks of banana 

 and plantain trees ; the weedings, and especially the pulp of coffee, 

 should be collected in pits with puddled clay at bottom and sides. 

 These pits should be protected against rain by some roofing, and 

 against the wash of rain along the ground by making sloping gutters 

 above. All this refuse is gradually changed into a black mould, which 

 makes an excellent manure. 



Decay of the Trees. — The decay of coffee trees may be partial from 

 constitution, accident, or disease ; or general from worn-out soil or the 

 age of the trees. 



The accidents to young trees have already been considered, and 

 reference is now made to those of mature growth. Even when the soil 

 is not yet exhausted, several trees may show signs of decay, and may 

 require treatment according to different plans. 



(a) The tree must be first well pruned, half or full pruning according 

 to the state of decay. Next a trench must be dug all round, a foot or 

 more wide, as deep as possible, and at the distance of a foot from the 

 trunk. If any of the roots are found to be injured, they must be cut off ; 

 the others must be cleared and shortened with a sharp crooked knife. 

 Then the pit must be filled again with the soil well broken up and 

 mixed with a fourth or fifth part of well rotted manure. The surface 

 is then to be beaten or trampled even and smooth. If the ground is 

 very steep, some trunks of bananas should be laid down, and pegged, 

 to prevent the ground from giving way. 



(b) If the trees or branches are in a worse state than above, they may 

 be sawn off near the ground, or near their point of origin, and when the 

 shoots are advanced, the best and lowest in situation should be chosen 

 and supported by a prop, the others being pulled off. The roots, too, 

 must ba dug round, pruned and manured, as above. 



(c) If a tree is dead, another must be planted. The largest and 

 healthiest plant must be taken from the nursery with the ball of earth 

 round its roots. A hole as big round as a flour- barrel must be dug, and 

 the soil well broken up and manured ; the young tree carefully planted, 

 and its safety secured by trunks of bananas. r ; 



Tools. — The tools necessary for pruning are a small handsaw, about 2 

 inches broad at the handle ; and a strong knife, at most an inch broad 

 and 5 inches long, besides the hook which must be pointed. The blade 

 ought to be of one piece with the handle. 



Rules for use of tools. — The saw should be used with one hand, while 

 the trunk is held fast with the other. The trunk must be cut very 

 sloping, with the cut facing north, so that sun and rain will injure it as 

 little as possible. 



