EFFECT OF TOPPING ON YIELD OF COFFEE 7 
For the three-year period as a unit the production of the trees 
which were held to a single trunk and those which were topped at 6 
feet differed from that of the unpruned trees by T and 3 per cent. 
The difference in yield betw T een the trees which were topped at 4 feet, 
however, and the unpruned trees was 13 per cent in favor of the 
unpruned trees. 
The record of production for the seven following years showed the 
depressing effect of heavy pruning to be cumulative. For this period 
the trees which were held to a single trunk and those topped at 6 feet 
produced only two-thirds as much as the unpruned trees, whereas 
those that were topped at 4 feet produced slightly less than half as 
Fig. 4. — Foreground, trees topped at 4 feet December. 1910, and photographed 
September, 1914 
much as the check. For the 10-year period as a whole the trees which 
were held to a single trunk and those topped at 6 feet produced only 
74 per cent as much as the unpruned trees, and those which were 
topped at 4 feet produced only 58 per cent as much. The production 
is shown graphical^ in Figure 5. 
CONCLUSIONS 
Topping coffee trees considerably facilitates collection of the crop 
and also contributes to the uniform and well-kept appearance of the 
plantation, but these advantages are gained at the expense of yield. 
Such minor benefits compensate in only a small degree for the heavy 
loss of crop entailed. 
The normal production of coffee is largely upon primary laterals. 
The tree is constantly producing new upright branches bearing pri- 
