456 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Dec., 1897. 
decay or disease, and annually produce good crops. They have had little 
attention and still less pruning. Queensland experience shows that the 
pruning knife should be sparingly used. 
The curing of the coffee will now be dealt with. This is of primary 
importance. Care should be taken to prevent any mal-odour in or near the 
surroundings. ‘Tanks, drying-ground, and trays should be non-absorbent 
of moisture; the pulper should rest on a concrete floor; the tanks when not of 
concrete should be made of galvanised iron—ordinary iron will rust. The 
coffee bean is at all times susceptible to anything deleterious, and this is more 
marked in the early stages of the curing process. 
Australian coffee may be hyper-sensitive, but with up-to-date plant and 
proper care the aroma and keeping qualities of the bean will be improved. 
Primitive methods of curing will not do; growers must grasp these facts in 
order to obtain the full measure of commercial success. 
In a recent official report issued by the Agricultural Department, the 
advice is given regarding an intended shipment of coffee to London :—“ That 
it be sent in some vessel where it will be guaranteed a passage away from any 
contaminating smell, such as hides, wool, or tallow, as the coffee bean is most 
apt to acquire any untoward odour.” 
Buildings and Plant.—Growers expecting a crop next year, 1898, should 
without delay see to their requirements. Let it be understood that in the 
following specitications the requirements of a full crop are in view, but fora 
first crop only about one-third of the superficial area of buildings, &ec., or 
capacity of tanks is required. The pulper, however, should be of full capacity 
from the start. Official reports give 4 lb. of ripe berries per tree at first crop, 
and il Jb. in the second or full crop. 
Let us assume that the first crop averages 3 lb. of ripe berries per tree, 
and the second crop 9 lb., averaging each pound of berries to give 22 per cent. 
of parchment-cured coffee beans, or at the rate of 174 per cent. when fully 
cleaned. The result is— , 
‘1st crop—third year—s lb. berries giving 10} oz. parchment or 8'4 oz. clean 
2nd ,, TOUTLLM em OsLD seis » 81202. 3 25:2 oz. ,, 
The picking season will last about three months or so. About one-half of 
the crop will be taken offin the first month, or, say, in twenty-five working 
days. Assuming the maximum number of trees to each acre is 1,000 (43% 
square teet to each tree), the second crop yielding 9,000 lb. of berries, or an 
average daily picking during the first twenty-five days of 180 lb. of berries per 
acre: two days’ picking, 360 lb. 
Pulper.—The capacity of the pulper on any estate should be equal to a 
maximum two days’ picking of a full crop, and to put that quantity through 
in two hours or less. The pulping will usually be done daily, but accident or 
other causes may interfere, and a day’s pulping may be lost. 
Two days’ picking on 5 acres gives 1,800 lb., pulper capacity 1,000 1b. per hour 
7 D 20Ee 7,200 lb. i" 3,600 Ib. 
va " BOs 18,000 Ib. iY 9,000 lb. _,, 
If the pulping is done in the evening, on the morning following the coffee 
is washed and put out to dry. 
The Pulping-house may have a store for the cured coffee and other 
requisites, under the same roof, or otherwise, as found desirable. 
Washing-tanks.—These should be made of a shallower depth than usual. 
One receiving-tank and one washing-tank, each to hold 100 gallons, are wanted 
for the first crop on a 5-acre estate. The number and capacity to be 
proportionately increased to meet a full crop, viz. :— 
For 5 acres—total combined capacity of tanks ... ... 600 gallons 
” 20 ” ” ” ” ” ove ose 2,400 ” 
”? 50 ? 9 ” 2? ”? un see 6,000 ” 
” 
