COrFEE. 



77 



for the whole island, were, iu 18-10. 2.197.771 arrobns ; in 1841, 

 1,260,920 i arrobas. 



In 1817 there were 2,061 plantations under cultivation witli 

 coftee in Cuba, in 1816 there were ou\v 1,670. The production 

 of 1819 was 1,170,751 arrobas, valued at 2,206,131 dollars. 

 Erom the vear 1811 to 1816, the average vearlv production was 

 45,236,100"lbs. : but from 1846 to 1851, it was only 19,206,100 lbs. ; 

 showing a falling olf of 72 per cent. ; the production still fiu'ther 

 decreased in 1851, it being only 13,001,350 lbs., or 1.52 per cent, 

 less than the preceding year. This enormous decline in the pro- 

 duction of coffee has been caused by the low price of the article 

 iu the markets of Europe and the United States, coupled with the 

 more remunerative price of sugar, during the same period ; causing 

 capitalists rather to invest money in the formation of new sugar 

 estates. As a consequence, many coffee plantations have been 

 turned into cane cultivation; or, being abandoned, the slaves 

 attached thereto were sold or leased to sugar planters. 



The following is private information from a correspondent : — 



" TVe generally plant about 200,000 trees within a space of 500 feet, choosing 

 the strongest soil. I have adopted a different ss^stem from the one generally iu 

 use hjre, for they usually plant the trees too near each other. I find by 

 giving them space and air, that the plant develops itself and yields more 

 beans. It is very important to protect the trees from the rays of the sun, for 

 which purpose I plant bananas at intermediate rows ; their broad leaves, like 

 parasols, shei a delightful shade rouad the coffee plant, and tend to accumulate 

 the moisture which strengthens the roots of the young tree. 



"When the tree is about two years old the top branches are lopped off for the 

 purpose of throwing the sap into the bean. Some plonters cut the trees so 

 short, that they do not allow them to stand more than live or six feet above the 

 ground; but I allow mine to attain greater height prior to lopping them, 

 whereby they produce larger crops. Xor do I allow my negroes to boat the 

 trees, or force them to pluck a certain quantity a day, for I discovered that 

 they picked the ripe and unripe beans indiscriminately — frequently injuring the 

 trees. I only allow them to shake the tree, and pick up the beans that have 

 fallen during the night." 



Coffee exports from the ports of Havana aud Matanzas, in 

 Cuba, for the years ending December in 



Quintals. 



1839 .... 344,725 



1840 .... 402,135 



1841 .... 212,767 



1842 .... 314,191 



1843 .... 223,265 



1844 .... 186,349 



Quintals. 



1845 42,409 



1846 ... 65,045 



1847 .... 106,904 



1848 .... 31,674 



1849 .... 92,974 

 1852 .... 42,510 



Porto Eico exported 85,384 cwt. of coffee in 1839. 



Africa. — Coffee will require some four years to grow before it 

 will give to the cultivator any income, but it should be known 

 that after that time the tree, witb little or no labor bestowed on 

 it, will yield two crops a year. The quality of coffee grown in 

 tbe republic of Liberia, on the western coast of Africa, is pro- 

 nounced by competent judges to be equal to any in the world. 

 In numerous instances, trees full of coffee, are seen at only three 

 years old. 214 casks and bags of coffee were imported from the 

 western coast of Africa in 1846. 



