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25 feet, if left unpruned), its large, thick leaves and 
comparatively large berries. It is only suited to 
cultivation at low elevations. 
Cultivation . — The plant thrives well on soils fairly 
rich in humus; peaty land, providing it can be 
properly drained, is said to give the best returns. 
The seed should be carefully selected from only 
perfectly ripe berries and, after depulping, is mixed 
with dry ashes and spread out to dry in a warm, 
shady place. The dried seed is then planted about 
one inch deep at distances of 6 to 9 inches apart 
in raised nursery beds, which are covered with 
heavy attap shade. The beds require careful water- 
ing during dry weather, and the shade should be 
removed gradually as the young plants develop. 
The seedlings may remain in the nursery beds for 
3 to 4 months but, providing the shade has been 
reduced, they may be removed to the field when 
they have only 2 to 3 pairs of leaves. At this 
period they stand transplanting better than if 
allowed to remain longer in the nurseries. 
The distance of planting in the field should be about 
15 ft. x 15 ft., or 193 trees per acre. The seedlings 
should be transplanted in the wet season, the tap- 
root being cut off with a sharp knife when the young 
plants are removed from the nursery. The planted 
areas should be clean weeded. 
When the bushes are about 6 to 7 ft. high they 
should be topped in order to facilitate the collection 
of the ripe berries. Pruning is done throughout 
the year, at intervals of about two months. No 
permanent shade is required, 
Liberian coffee has a vigorous constitution and is 
more or less resistant to leaf-disease. 
