302 ' QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ocr., 1898. 
My convictions are strong that the study of drugs should begin in their 
habitat and extend to the bedside of the patient. That it is important to know 
every change that may take place in their cultivation and collection, as well as 
those incident to their preparation for administration, this seems to be sufficient 
warrant for these observations taken in the Land of Ginger—Jamaica.* 
COFFEE NOTES. 
Mr. J. Witson, formerly a member of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon, 
furnishes the following notes on coffee-planting in thatisland and in Queensland 
in a letter addressed to the Hon. J. V. Chataway, Minister for Agriculture :— 
As you desire to collect in a concise form any information on the subject, 
I shall be glad if the following should be of interest. 
Coffee grown at a high elevation gives a very small crop, but one infinitely 
superior to that grown at a lower elevation, and contains a very large percentage 
of “ Peaberry.’’+ 
While riding through the Rambodde Pass, between Gampola and Newera 
Ellya, Ceylon, my companion, Mr. G. Abercrombie Dick, a veteran planter, 
' drew my attention to: a clearing on the right which from its high and exposed 
position seemed just about the last place to find a plantation. is el 
The place was named ‘“Condigalla”’ (little windy stone), and belonged to 
the Messrs. Rothschilds. The crop was a most scant one, but on account of 
its superior quality the greatest care was observed in picking, pulping, and 
curing the crop. None of the crop was ever sold, but distributed in the shape 
of presents to all the crowned heads of Europe and others who had financial 
dealings with the Rothschilds. 
The ultra prolific bearing of coffee in Queensland will not for some time 
to come affect the quality, but it will be necessary to restore to the soil, in 
the way of manure, what it most lacks to keep up the standard of quality. 
Wash holing (one hole to every four trees) and burying tails—i.e., the 
outer skin after being separated by the pulper—together with the small twigs, 
&e., after pruning and handling, will be found most beneficial. 
In some districts of Queensland I should recommend the stripping of the 
maiden crop to give increased size and vigour to the trees to carry large crops. 
With such a range of temperature as we possess in Queensland, the 
fermenting of parchment before washing out is a question to be demonstrated 
by experience, and presents no difficulty if certain lines are followed; but 
without the fermentation to remove the saccharine matter from the parchment, 
it is useless to expect a marketable sample. 
As I have repeatedly reiterated, we have sufficient land which if cultivated 
would pay our national debt. 
I shall be glad if these few notes should prove of interest. 
YIELD OF COFFEE PER TREE. 
Oprytons vary much amongst amateur coffee planters as to what constitutes a 
good crop. They are told of trees which have borne 15 lb. weight of clean 
coffee, and of plantations where from 5 to 7 1b. was the usual crop, but such 
statements have to be largely discounted. Coffee-growing in Queensland is 
still in the experimental stage, and the most experienced planters from Ceylon, 
Brazil, Africa, and other producing countries are liable to be led astray, by 
applying their experience in our climate to a totally different one, especially as 
*In preparing this paper, valuable assistance has been rendered the writer by those whose 
names are mentioned therein. In addition, he feels indebted to His Excellency Sir A. Blake, 
Governor of Jamaica ; to the Hon. Q. O. Eckford, ex-United States Consul; to Geo. A. Douet, 
tte Secretary of the Jamaica Agricultural Society ; to L. Frazer, of: Montego Bay, and many 
others, - : ' 
+ ‘Peaberry” is the term used to denote a berry which contains only one cotyledon, or at 
most one developed and the other shrunk to a very small size.—Ed. QA. 
