170 , QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, [1 Ave., 1898. 
Topping.—This consists in cutting off the top of the tree to prevent it 
from attaining a greater height than it would otherwise. This operation 
should not be performed until the brown bark has attained the desired height ; 
if cut in the green wood, the top is sure to die back to the brown, and thereby 
cause serious loss. When topping it is also found necessary to remove one or 
other of the top primaries as shown in Fig. I.,as it frequently happens that, by 
leaving both standing, the weight of crop and of the primaries themselves is 
liable to cause the tree to split in two. In Ceylon, topping the trees at 3 feet 
6 inches in very sheltered situations is generally resorted to, but 3 feet and 
2 fect 6 inches are not at all uncommon. In Queensland, however, where the 
trees seem to grow and bear out of all proportion to Ceylon and India, I 
would recommend a height of 4 feet 6 inches to 4 feet 9 inches in very 
sheltered positions, reducing this height to 4: feet and 3 feet 6 inches, according 
to the elevation of the land and its exposure to winds. 
Topping causes the tree to spread out to a great width and assume a much 
more vigorous appearance than when allowed to grow to any height, and 
possesses, besides, the immense advantage of enabling the pickers and others to 
work round and about all parts of the tree without the inconvenience of 
providing themselves with step-ladders, as is commonly done in the Brazils. In 
topping, a stick is generally used, which, having been cut down to the desired 
height, is placed inside the tree, and near the stem. The top of the tree is 
then cut level with that of the stick. By this means the trees are all reduced 
to the same height, which adds much to the general appearance of the 
plantation. 
Handling and Pruning.—As it is the planter’s main object to keep his 
trees strong and healthy, handling should be begun at as early a stage as 
practicable. This consists in freeing the stem itself of all suckers and also 
the primaries to a distance of a span around the tree, as shown in Fig. I.; next 
examine carefully the primaries, and as you run your hand over them 
remove all secondaries having a tendency to grow back towards the stem, or in 
a perpendicular way, leaving only to grow such as run more or less parallel 
with the primary (véde I'ig. IT.). Secondaries will often be found to grow in 
twos and threes from the same joint. Jt is very desirable under these 
conditions to remove all but one, or two at the most, no harm being done by 
leaving two, provided they grow in a proper direction and do not overlay one 
another, but in this, as in many other instances with regard to handling and 
pruning, the planter should to a large extent use his own discretion. Some 
planters there are who prefer leaving all the wood on for the maiden crop, 
whether the secondaries left are contrary to the position they should occupy or 
not. J question very much whether by doing so a heavier percentage of fruit 
would be obtained, whilst I am quite sure that it weakens to a great extent the 
young tree, besides becoming a source of enormous trouble when, after crop, 
the late-bearing wood has to be removed and the tree put into shape again, 
If the operation of handling is seriously taken in hand from the first, it 
will help to make matters very much easier for the pruning. The latter is at 
all times a very important function, as on it entirely depends the productive- 
ness of the tree and the quality of the coffee obtained. 
In pruning a tree, all dead wood, or wood that has borne fruit, should be 
removed, for the same wood that has given fruit this year will not do so again 
next; consequently if, to the planter’s mind, the secondary which has to be 
pruned down is not of a very vigorous growth, it should be cut down 
to the first living eye only, as shown in Fig. IIL, allowing one 
tertiary to bear fruit for the coming crop. On the other hand, should the wood 
be strong enough to bear them, two tertiaries may be allowed to remain as 
shown in Fig. LV., pruning down to the second living eye, and removing end of 
secondary and alternate tertiaries. Great care must be taken here not to allow 
any wood to remain that is at all likely to at any time form a crow’s nest, 
retarding thereby others from bearing fruit, and becoming at once a serious 
