May 1, 189t J 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
747 
«. fj; the indigenous and exotic. Their names are as 
follows : — 
INDIGENOUS. 
Ficus Glomerata •.• ••• 
Dalbergia latifolia ..• .•• Biti. 
Ei-ythiina indica ... ••• Palwan. 
Pterocarpus maisupium ... ... Ifonne. 
Lagerstroemia lanceolata ... Nandi. 
Terminalia beleiica ... ... Tare. 
Acrocaipus fiaxinifolius ... ... IIov:li(je. 
Cedrela toona ... .. ... Noge. 
Ficus bengalensis ... ... Alada. 
„ tubercnlata 
,, Mysoren?is ... ... Goiti. 
„ Tjakela .. ... Vupbamiri, 
,, Tsiela ... ... Bill hamri. 
„ Asperrima (Inferior) ... Gargatli. 
Albizzia odoratissiiiia ... ... Bilvara. 
Artocarpus iutegrifolia ... . . Halasu. 
„ hirsuta .. .. Kad halasu. 
Antiaris toxicaria 
Also some undetermined species. 
Exotic. 
Erythrina lithosperma Mostly young, 
Albizzia moluccana 
Grevillea robusta 
Cinchona succirubra. Kot classed as shade 
Pithecolobium saraan. 
The correct amount of shade to be maintained ou 
an estate is another matter for which a fixed rule 
cannot be laid down, as it must of necessity vary 
according to ciicumstauces. In situations where the 
rainfall is heavy or regular, soil good, and aspect 
cool, the shading should be comparatively light. But 
in the greater part of the " Bamboo" these conditions 
are somewhat reversed, and particularly in those parts 
where the soil is light, stony, and sunburnt, it is 
essential to lave heavier shade. In furniahicg this 
protection, however, care has to be taken not to 
remove an undue proportion of plant food from the 
staple cultivation, and in places where young shade 
trees are thickly planted there is the danger of doing 
this. During the early years of growth, trees of this 
class draw nearly their whole nourithment from the 
surface soil, and at all ages the surface roots of trees 
will contend for a ehare of its abundant food. 
It is tiue that most saplings will soon establish 
their leading roots in the subsoil at depths far beyond 
the reach of the coffee bush, and as they increase 
in size, this tendency to draw nourishment from the 
snbatratum increases until in many fully developed 
forest trees surface rooting is reduced to a minimum. 
All other conditions being favourable, it is deep- 
rooting trees of this class that should be preferred to 
shade coffee. The only exceptions would be in the 
case of fig trees, which (probably from their quasi- 
parasitic nature) do not appear to exhaust the soil 
to the same extent as other shaders, and leguminous 
trees, which assist nitrification in the surface soils. 
On some of the estates visited, sapling trees ranging 
in age from five to fifteen years were so closely 
cultivated that the growth of timber almost appeared 
to be the primary object. On others, having a moie 
advanced growth, the trees had been considerably 
thimed, while the remainder had been "lopped up," 
e. </., pruned from the base upwards, so that the 
actual shade was far above the coffee. This again 
conveyed an idea of arboriculture, the trunks being 
so numerous and bare. Of course, the object aimed 
at of admitting air and light in this way is perfectly 
sound, but the fact remains that a plantation of 
young trees is rapidly consuming food which by 
right belongs to the coffee. 
Where the initial mistake has been made of remov- 
ing the indigenous deep-rooted shade — and it is 
pretty universal— replanting has been compulsory, as 
no one now thinks of growing coffoo successfully 
without shade. 
But in addition to losing much valuable time in 
secondary planting, it will be felt that the land is 
called upon to do double service. This, however, is 
uot the only disadvantage arising from the sudden 
exposure of forest soil long nurtured under shade. 
Such treatment causes a revulsion in the chemical 
action of the soil, and under strong sun-light the 
valuable process of nitrification is arrested. Possibly 
this may account for the infertility of long-abandoned 
coffee lands. It is, therefore, clearly to the planter's 
interest not to bare the land entirelj^, but rather by 
careful selection to retain and make use of the forest 
trees already iu possession. The finest shade, with 
the least exhaustion to the soil, is provided by 
deep-rooted umbrageous trees gi-owing at 60, 80, and 
even 100 feet apart. Specimens of this description 
are sufficiently abundant in the virgin forest, and 
planters should always utilise them when making 
Dew clearings. It is under shade of this sort, with 
perhaps a little secondary planting here and there 
to till up gaps, where one sees the finest coffee. 
'• Devaracadoo'' in the south and "Hallery" in the 
north, may be quoted as good examples of mixed 
shade. These fine trees not only indicate the fertile 
nature of the soil but they also protect and manure it, 
while reserving tl e upper stratum for the growth 
of coffee. 
They also drain the subsoil, and extract mineral 
solutions from the latter, v.hich are indirectly conveyed 
to ihe surface soil in the fallen leaf and decayed 
roots. It is in this reciprocation of mineral focd 
constituents that the use of a varietv of good share 
trees, in preference to a few, is chiefly commendable. 
But variety is also needed to produce the light ard 
shade which is so necessary to effect the best resulta 
in growing coffee. When in the months of June and 
July the sun is often obscured for weeks together 
and the trees are dripping with superabundant water, 
it stands to reason that dense shade would do harm. 
Then, again, when tender grow th is progressing during 
the hottest months of the year more shade would 
be necessary. In other words conditions vary, as 
should also the amount of shade on a ccffee estate. 
Different trees cast their leaves at different times cf 
the year, hence the admission of light in a somewhat 
varying quantity. The greatest amount of exposure 
should extend from November, when the berry is 
ripening, until the flowering period, when the young 
fruit is set ; the object being to insure the thorough 
ripening of the young wood. Naturally this is what 
happens, as with the cessation of rain, fall of the lea 
is hastend and the ccffee bush becomes more exposed 
to the ripening ii flueuce of sun-light. I observed 
that the "Palwan" — Enjthrina indica — is a favourite 
shade-tree with many planters, and is looked upon as 
a fertiliser of the soil. The evergreen species, 
Eriithriria litlwsperina. is also under trial, although in 
some cases it is not true to name, being thorny and a 
doubtful evergreen. Dalhergia swwo, Boxb., is a new 
shade tree which 1 have recommended for planting in 
stony land. 
Seed can be supplied in quantity from Bangalore, 
where the tree flourishes. 
CULTIVATION OP COFFEE. 
It is not my intention to write a treatise on the 
cultivation of coffee, as every planter is sufficiently 
skilled in the routine of his particular work, while 
many are clever experts in the whole industry. But 
there are certain details of an important nature, 
bearing on the results of cultivation, on which the 
opinion of an outsider might be of some value. 
Lands selected for the cultivation of coffee are 
usually of three classes, e. g., virgin forest, Kumri and 
RnA kanavc ; and they are always the best of their 
kind, due allowance being made for other necessary 
conditions, such as rainfall, aspect and shelter from 
prevailing winds. But forest soil is the best, as also 
the most enduring under shade. When fully exposed 
by the entire removal of shade, land of the latter 
class exhibits extraordinary fertility for a time, hut 
under the influence of full snn-light it gradually 
becomes less fertile, and coffee ev. ntually dies out. 
This is due to what might be called adverse cir- 
cumstances, as for nge.s, tlie soil had been accustomed 
to a wholly different course of treatment for which 
it was specially adapted. By its absorptive and 
retentive nature, a deep vegctablt mould is peculiarly 
fitted for the dual support of forest trees and coHee, 
