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and larger in size, and there are more berries on 
each cluster. The robusta berries are much smaller, 
but the beans are almost the same size as the- 
Liberian. 
Cultivation . — The plant grows best on a loose clay 
loam or a red laterite type of soil but, unlike 
Liberian, it is unsuited to peaty land. The seed is 
sown in shaded nursery beds at distances of 6 to 
10 inches apart, according to the length of time 
before transplanting. The shade should be removed 
gradually, so that the plants are fully exposed when 
they have four pairs of leaves, at which stage they 
are also ready for planting out. 
The distance of planting may vary on different 
types of soil, but should not be greater than 10 
ft. x 10 ft., which gives 435 plants per acre. After 
planting, the area should be clean weeded. To 
induce branching, the plants should be topped when 
they reach a height of about 6 to 8 feet. The 
plant requires less pruning than Liberian, but it 
is commenced at an earlier stage. 
Robusta does not appear to be very susceptible to 
disease, but it is not free from the leaf-disease 
peculiar to coffee. It is probably more liable than 
Liberian to attacks of insect pests. 
The plants begin to flower when eight months old, 
but the early flowers do not always set. Robusta 
blossoms throughout the year and the berries should 
therefore be collected once a month. The berries, 
mature within about ten months of flowering, and 
are ready for picking when the greater number in 
the cluster become straw-coloured ; the whole cluster 
may be generally gathered at once. A small crop 
may be collected in the second year, while the 
