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Dealing with the various works incidental to the actual 
cultivation in this country there would appear a necessity for many 
changes in methods that in former times were considered orthodox. 
Planting Distance. 
Planting distance in coffee, as in every other tropical product, 
gives rise at the outset to a considerable amount of discussion, the 
variety of opinions occasioned chiefly by the dissimilarity in soil 
conditions, situation, etc. 
At whatever height the tree be topped, or even if it be not 
topped at all, the spread of the lower branches indicates the 
inadvisability of anything like close planting. Diametrical 
measurements of trees with specially vigorous growth have in 
some instances been given from trees topped at 5f feet showing as 
much as 20 feet across, but although under the most favourable 
conditions such a result over a large area is highly improbable, still, 
the adoption of a much wider distance than used to be considered 
correct is to be recommended. 
The undesirability of allowing the lower branches to overlap, or 
even to meet, is very soon obvious when heavy blossoms and crops 
begin to be visible, and when the cooly, whether he be engaged in 
the works of weeding, cultivation, or gathering the crop, makes his 
way down the lines not only with difficulty but at the serious 
expense of the newly-set crop which is often destroyed in large 
quantities. 
Should the policy of 5^ feet topping be adopted, the distance for 
planting may reasonably be given as 15 ft. x 15 ft. or 12 ft. x20 ft., 
the former giving nearly 200 trees to the acre, and the latter 180. 
High coffee (untopped) has never been greatly in vogue in this 
country, though in Java and Sumatra the system has many 
supporters. It entails a great deal more expense in maintenance 
such as pruning, etc., ladders also are required foi* picking the crop, 
these are costly in manufacture and upkeep, and it is doubtful if 
proportionate results are obtained. 
Selection op Seel. 
There is just as much to be said in favour of careful selection of 
seed, as in other products ; and it is unnecessary to state that the 
cherry should be perfectly ripe. In preparing for the nursery, care 
must be taken after the process of separation from the pulp is 
complete to mix well with dry ashes^ and spread out in a warm 
place, not exposed to the direct rays of the sun. Deep planting in 
the nursery is a very ordinary cause of failure in germination; the 
seed need only be placed to a depth of 1 inch, but the nursery 
requires top-dressing with fine soil after heavy rains. A safe 
distance at which to place the seed is 5 to 6 inches apart, and 
a heavy attap shade is a necessity. Plants taken from the 
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