20 BULLETIN 30, PORTO RICO EXPERIMENT STATION. 
two almuds on which data are given in Table 4 was less favorable 
than for Excelsa, the two almuds of Dewevrei each giving 3 pounds 
12 ounces of marketable coffee. In this planting there are some 
worthless trees, together with a number of notably vigorous and 
productive trees of a much more desirable type than is the ordinary 
Liber i an coffee. 
Where such variation is exhibited among trees it would seem ad- 
visable to practice shield budding of the more desirable strains for 
further propagation. This is a simple process but is not practiced 
locally. The trees should be set at planting distances of about 12 
by 12 feet and be topped at a height of 12 feet. 
Other Members of the Liberian Group. 
Coffea abeokutce. — In the station plantings there are a few trees 
of this species which came from St. Lucia, West Indies. These are 
vigorous and in foliage, fruit, and manner of growth are similar to 
C. lib erica. The cherries are large, 99 having been found in a liter, 
and the pulp is thick. Being very inferior to C. excelsa and to many 
individuals in the planting of C. dewevrei, this species is not recom- 
mended for trial. 
Coffea dybowskii. — Seed from a tree of this species that was grow- 
ing surrounded by trees of C. excelsa, and thought to contain possi- 
bly some hybrids of the two, was received from the Java Experiment 
Station in the years 1916-1918. Trees of the earlier importation are 
just coming into bearing. They look promising, but it is too soon 
yet to predict their merits. In growth they are very vigorous, and 
in general appearance are suggestive of a magnified 0. excelsa. with 
their longer internodes, larger leaves, and larger closely clustered 
cherries. The internodes on laterals range from 3 to 9 or more 
inches in length, 4 to 7 being a representative length. The leaves 
are oval, of heavy texture, and the largest of any found in the station 
plantings, measuring 6 by 14 to 9 by 20 inches. The flowers are five- 
petaled and If inches across. The cherries are very large, averag- 
ing 185 per liter in two lots taken from one tree, and they have a 
rather thick pulp. 
ROBUSTOID GROUP. 
Robusta coffee, with its related species, has come into prominence 
only within recent years. Being considered poor in cup quality, 
this coffee has been rather reluctantly purchased by American deal- 
ers. It has been rather extensively planted in the East Indies be- 
cause of its heavy production. In growth the tree is intermediate 
between that of the other two groups. Its ripening season in Porto 
Rico is distinct from that of the Arabian coffee, the crop beginning 
to mature toward the end of the Arabian harvest. The pulp is very 
thin and an almud of Robusta cherries will therefore contain more 
marketable coffee than is true of either Arabian or Liberian. The 
ripe cherries do not drop readily, and pickings may be made every 
four weeks instead of every two, .as is the local practice. The grow- 
ing of this coffee for export is not recommended, but it may serve to 
furnish a low-priced article to that part of the local trade which pre- 
fers a cheap rather than a high-priced coffee of good quality. 
