COFFEE, 



43 



We may instaiice Liberia aud the western coast of Africa geue- 

 rally, the interior ranges of Xatal, tlie moimtain-ranges on the 

 northern coast of Australia, from Moreton Baj to Torres Straits, 

 &c., &Q. But the present production is more than equal to the 

 demand ; and unless a very largely increased consmnption takes 

 place in the European countries, the present plantations (colonial 

 and foreign) are amply siiincient to supply, for many years to 

 come, all the demands that can be made upon their trees, a large 

 proportion of ^Yhich have yet to come iiito full bearing. 



The coliee tree would gTOW to the height of fifteen or twenty 

 feet if permitted, but it is bad policy to let it grow higher tlian 

 four or five feet. It comes to maturity in five years, but does not 

 thrive beyond the twenty-fifth, and is useless generally after thirty 

 years. Although the tree affords no profit to the planter for 

 nearly five years ; yet after that time, with very little labor be- 

 stowed upon it, it yields a large return. 



Mr. Churchill, Jamaica, found that 1,000 gi'ains of the wood, 

 leaves, and twigs of the coffee tree, yielded 38 grains of ashes, 

 or 3.300 per cent. The ashes consist of potass, lime, alumina, and 

 iron in the state of carbonates, sulphates, muriates, and phosphates, 

 and a small portion of silica. According to Liebig's classification 

 of plants, the coffee tree falls under the description of those noted 

 for their preponderance of lime. Thus the proportions in the 

 coffee tree are — 



Linis salts . . ' . . . . 77 



Potass salts . . . • . . .20 



Silica ....... 3 



100 



I shall now proceed to describe the cultivation of the tree and 

 preparation of the berry, as carried on in different countries. 



Cultivation of JKoclia — In Arabia Felix, the culture is princi- 

 pally carried on in the kingdom of Yemen, towards the cantons 

 of Aden and Mocha. Although these countries are very hot in 

 the plains, they possess mountains where the air is mild. The 

 coff'ee is generally gTOwn half way up on their slopes. When cid.- 

 tivated on the lower grounds it is always surrounded by large trees, 

 Avhich shelter it from the torrid sun, and prevent its fruit from 

 withering before their maturity. The harvest is gathered at tlu^ee 

 periods ; the most considerable occurs in May, when the reapers 

 begin by spreading cloths under the trees, then shaking the 

 branches strongly, so as to make the fruit drop, which they collect 

 and expose upon mats to dry. They then pass over the di'ied 

 berries a heavy roller, to break the envelopes, which are afterwards 

 winnowed away Avith a fan. The interior bean is again dried 

 before being laid up in store. 



The principal coffee districts are TIenjersia, Tarzia, Oudeiu, 

 Aneizah, Bazil, and Weesaf. The nearest coffee plantations are 

 three-and-a-half days joru-ney (about 80 miles) from Aden. 



The following information is derived from Capt. S. B. Haines 

 of the Indian Xavy, and our political agent at Aden. 



