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1 May, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL. JOURNAL. 377 
this further on. The difference between the fertilising work of insects and 
that of man consists in its being promiscuous and haphazard in the one case 
and systematic in the other. 
Now it individuals of two distinct species, such as C. arabica and. C. liberica, 
were to blossom together in the manner described above, exactly the same 
activity of insect life would be observed, with, perhaps, similar results, only 
that in this case the progeny would be more than a “variety,” it would be a 
“hybrid.” Planters know that year after year their nurseries are stocked with 
seedlings, raised from local seed, of which a small percentage appear to be new 
varieties, or at least different from their fellows. They know also that Nature 
is herself responsible for such variation. If the life-history of a number of 
seedlings was carefully traced, it would be found that while a few differed in 
the form, size, and texture of the leaf, others in the size and quality of the fruit 
or habit of growth, the major part would be nearly identical with the prevailing 
variety on the estate. This is all right where the prevailing strain is good. 
But where the product for which a plant is cultivated shows signs of exhaustion, 
or has become deficient in quality or quantity, the strain is said to have ‘‘run 
down,” and in all such cases too much individualism in reproduction is 
undesirable. It is in all probability to prevent this running down of strain or 
‘breed that Nature insists on cross-fertilisation. ; Sigs 
Coffea arabica, or Arabian coffee, of which there are several well-defined 
local varieties, known by such names as “Chick,” “ Coorg,” and “ Nalknad,’’ has 
been almost exclusively cultivated in this country from the time the industry 
was started, and it is only within recent years that one or two new varieties 
and species have been introduced and cultivated on the estates. This fact will 
explain the absence of hybrids over such an extensive area, there being no 
material to make hybrids from. Yet, within the past few years, some hybrids 
thave made their appearance, shortly following the introduction of Liberian 
coffee, a distinctly new species. And, barring the fact that two distinet species 
have been placed in juxtaposition to each other, the hybrids are the work of 
Nature. But in the instances referred to, man must get the credit of haying 
materially helped Nature by providing a new species for the latter to work 
upon. 
E Tf he would, therefore, do more in this direction, the chances are that 
worn-out strains of coffee would soon be replaced by better kinds. 
This leads me on to the suggestion that approved varieties and new species 
of coffee should be freely introduced from other countries. ‘The field for 
experiment would then be much widened, as planters would have sufficient 
material to work upon. 
The cultivated forms of coffee in different parts of the world are already 
so far advanced of the indigenous or wild bush that it would probably be mere ~ 
waste of effort to bring the latter into experiments, the object of which is to 
secure further improvement in productiveness and quality. Collections of 
species and varieties should therefore be confined, in the first instance at least, 
+o well known jats already in cultivation. These I shall leave the planter, 
being the best judge, to select for himself. Now, supposing that some enter- 
rising planter has already secured such @ collection of coffee-bearing plants, 
ee is he to dispose of them to the best advantage P 
This is a question that I shall endeavour to answer in my next. 
With one or two new species of coffee at one’s disposal, and # like number of 
distinctly marked varieties, such as the “ Maragogipe,” which is an introduced 
variety (from Brazil) of Coffea arabiea, an experimental plot could be started 
onthe following lines :— 
(a) Situation, as regards aspect, soil, water and shade, to be the best 
the estate can afford. Occasionally irrigation will probably be 
required to induce the different bushes to blossom together, so that 
the possession of a perennial water-supply would be a conyenience. 
(b) The crossing-plot need not exceed one-eighth, or at greatest one- 
fourth, of an acre in extent, while it is possible that equal results 
may be obtained by working systematically on a few bushes. 
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