( 16 ) 
that as nature promiscuously supplies this ve¬ 
getation, a larger corp of collaterals might be 
generated, and draw more aliment from the tree, 
than it is able to support, and bring the fruit 
to perfection, so it becomes necessary to resort 
to science, and to select that portion of the 
wood which is healthy, strong, and regular, 
and take out the puny irregular, and super¬ 
fluous* 
All shrub trees require a certain amount of 
respiration, to conduce to their health and vi¬ 
gor. With the coffee tree, it is indispensable 
to its health and life, that a constant and re¬ 
gular circulation of air should be transmitted 
through the body, and to this view it is ne¬ 
cessary that the heart of the tree should be 
kept entirely free from vegetation. After a 
severe pruning, the vegetation is rank, and 
studded. The prudent planter watches his op¬ 
portunity, and so soon as he perceives the 
young wood of sufficient growth, to admit of 
an exercise of judgment in its selection, he di¬ 
rects the opening to be performed. The heads 
of the trees are first to be stripped ot all ve¬ 
getation, so as to form a clear area of at least 
six inches from the original stem, afterwards 
all that which runs transversely; and as the 
opener proceeds, he takes out every thing which 
appears “spindly’ 7 and stunted leaving the rich 
healthy “black 77 wood to produce the crop. 
When fields are kept in “ good order, 77 by 
light annual prunings, there are always two 
growths of wood to be seen coming on—-the 
first in advance and ripe for the crop, and the 
second shooting out, to ripen for the ensuing year. 
My own principle has been to follow this course* aa» 
