THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September i, 1887. 
two or three months longer than usual around the 
berries, had acted as a kind of natural preserver, inside 
of which the berry had time, as it were, to mature 
more completely than when deprived of its outer and 
inner coating almost immediately after being picked. 
The curing requires machinery, motive power, drying 
grounds, delicate manipulation, and constant super- 
vision ; where any of these requisites fail, the coffee 
suffers in appearance, and consequently in value. 
Suitable machinery for treating parchment has been 
erected at two of the London wharves ; and there is 
every reason to hope that this is only the beginning 
of a new and profitable home industry. Growers will 
net be slow to perceive that the small increase of 
freight which they have to pay on parchment, is more 
than compensated by the enhanced price which the 
improvement in the quality of their coffee will enable 
them to obtain. 
In addition to the produce of British Plantations, 
India grows native coffee, chiefly in the districts of 
Coorg, Mysore, and Wynaad. Of late years the greater 
part has found its way to the French markets, where 
it is much appreciated, and latterly also to Trieste. 
It is a matter for regret that shippers from the 
Malabar coast have not sent any specimens of those 
kinds to the Exhibition ; they are quite suitable for 
our home consumption, and form an important item 
of the Indian production. 
Mysore is represented by 105 samples from twenty- 
seven estates ; four samples — viz., large size, bulk, 
small size, and Veaberry — being in most cases shown 
from each estate. Rather less than one-half appears 
to be of the true, rounded, heavy silvered-skin Mysore 
berry, the remainder partaking more of the character 
of the large, flat, deep-coloured Coorg type. This is 
the result of the extensive planting of Coorg seed, 
the old chick or Mysore having become weak and 
unable to bear fruit or to be propagated as easily as 
formerly ; the hardier Coorg plants grow more quickly 
and yield larger crops, although not of such fine 
quality as the real Mysore plant. It would seem, 
however, as if the produce of the Coorg trees, on 
getting better acclimatised, showed some tendency 
to assimilate to the old Mysore, the finest and most 
esteemed of the Indian types. Of Neilgherry there 
are twenty-four samples from seven estates ; of Coorg, 
forty-five samples from thirteen estates ; of Wynaad, 
nineteen samples from five estates ; and from Tra- 
vancore, eight samples from three estates ; a total 
of 201 samples from fifty-five estates, besides twenty- 
eight samples in parchment or cherry. 
Taking 90s. percwt. as the average value of the bulk 
from the estates of true Mysore type, the Coorg, Mysore 
estates would be worth 80s., for bulk, the Neilgherry 
83s., the Coorg 82s., Wynaad 78s,, and Travancore 70s. 
per cwt. ; while native Blysore of average quality would 
be worth 63s., and native Coorg or Wynaad 60s. per cwt. 
The finest qualities of Blysore range in value from 100s. 
to 135s. per cwt. The export of coffee from India in 
1885 amounted to 328,317 cwt. 
Ceylon. — When looking at the fine samples which 
were exhibited in the Ceylon Court in the neat 
barrels prepared under the direction of the Planters' 
Association, one could not avoid a feeling of 
sadness and regret at the thought that they re- 
presented only the fast vanishing remains of what 
was but nine years ago the most extensive and 
flourishing of the coffee crops raised on British i 
soil by British enterprise and capital. The produc- 
tion which in 1873 amounted to nearly 1,000,000 
cwt., declined to GG5.000 cwt. in 1876, 312,000 cwt. 
in 1884, and 230,000 cwt. in 1885. The scourge of 
leaf-disease, a fungus (the Hcmileia vastatrix) which 
first made its appearance in 1869, has gradually 
swept over the whole island, weakening the trees, 
undermining the crop capabilities, and loading to the 
gradual extinction of the plantations over many of 
the best districts. Coffee, however, has been able to 
maintain its ground in some parts, notably in Haputale, 
Badulla, &c, which are more favourably situated as 
regards soil and rainfall, and crops of from 150,000 
to 200,000 cwt. may fairly be looked for for a few 
years to come, though it is not probable that cultivation J 
can again extend in the island, as there is but little 
suitable forest land remaining unopened. 
The variety known as Liberian coffee, which was 
planted extensively in the low country some years 
ago, under the belief that it would resist leaf-disease, 
has succumbed to it; besides which the quality is not 
appreciated in the home markets, on account of its 
coarseness, oily taste, and want of strength and aroma ; 
and the prices realised for this sort are not likely to 
give a fair return to the growers. 
Tw«nty-seven barrels exhibited by the Planters' 
Association of Ceylon, the produce of eight different 
estates, showed to what degree of excellence the prepar- 
ation of coffee has attained in the curing establishments 
of Colombo. Three specimens from each mark — large 
size, bulk and Peaberry, were shown, the former ranging 
in value from 90s. to 105s., and the latter from 87 to 
95s. The samples of bulk range from 75s. to 85s., 
averaging 80s., per cwt., according to the depth and 
brightness of the colour, smoothness and size, and weight 
and hardness of the berries ; these latter characteristics 
vary according to the soil and height of the estates, 
high-grown coffee being the most esteemed in the 
English market. Four barrels were shown of low 
grown, the produce of native gardens, cured and 
prepared like estate coffee, a very good and useful 
quality, though inferior in appearance and value to 
the produce of European plantations. Five samples 
were shown of pale or native coffee, extremely well 
sized and picked, and of an average value of 58s. 
per cwt. There were, further, five samples from two 
European plantations, and one of Liberian sort, of 
very large bean, smooth and well picked, worth 60s. 
per cwt., or about 8s. to 10s. per cwt. more than 
the average Liberian quality. 
Straits Settlements.— Coffee does not appear 
to grow in the British Settlements of Singapore, 
Penang, and Malacca, except in gardens and on a 
very small scale ; but in the three Native States of 
Perak, Sunjei-TJiong, and Selangor, taken under our 
protection in 1874, its cultivation has been introduced, 
and some interesting exhibits from Perak testify to 
the adaptability of the soil and climate for its production. 
In Perak, where mountain ranges, reaching to 7000 
feet, occupy a large portion of a well-watered coun- 
try, a considerable acreage, above 1000 feet elevation, 
is reported to be suitable for coffee cultivation, whilst 
the Liberian sort thrives on the lower slopes and the 
plains. In Selangor, planting has only been introduced 
during the last few years, whilst in Sunjei-Ujong 
estates have been established on the slopes of the 
Berumbuu range, which rises to a height of 3000 to 
4000 feet,' and the cultivation of Liberian has been 
introduced on the lowlands. Of the fourteen exhibits 
from Perak, five are from the experimental hill gardens 
opened by Government ; the sample marked Hill 
garden is strong and full flavoured, and worth '90s. ; 
those marked Waterloo and Hermitage have probably 
suffered somewhat in drying, being coarse and musty 
in the cup, and worth 70s. and 76s. Such kiuds, 
if purposely prepared on the spot, or in London, should 
the necessary appliances not exist at the plantations, 
and if perfectly sweet and clean, would supply an 
extremely good quality, suitable for home consumption 
as well as export, the coffee being, for size, colour, and 
general appearance, on a par with good Ceylon plant- 
ation. The climate, soil, and rainfall are all that can 
be wished on the Perak hills, but the great drawback 
hitherto has been the cost of labour, which, however, 
has now been arranged satisfactorily, aud the difficulty 
of transport. One sample of large pale berries, very 
smooth, but out of condition and mildewed, would be 
worth 60s. if sound ; two of Liberian, viz., Liudum 
Estate, in Sungei-Ujong, and Waterloo were very large, 
and worth 53s. to 55s. ; and three of ordinary Liberian 
quality, 48s. to 52s, per cwt. ; the remainder consisted 
of parchment and cherry. 
The growth of Liberian is not to be encouraged, 
for the reasons stated above under the head of Ceylon. 
Samples of Bali, Bonthyne, and Philippine coffee, 
exhibited in the division of Straits Settlements, were 
probably not British-grown, but the produce of some 
of the Dutch islands in the neighbourhood of the Straits 
