Mian, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 215 
the coffee tree is generally looked upon as a particularly hardy plant, and 
Tdoubtedly it is so, when it has reached maturity and after it has borne its 
0 crop, if the conditions are at all favourable to its growth. Once it has 
it Its tap root well into the soil and has a firm hold, it is difficult to kill a coffee 
| 2 outricht, Cutting it down to the ground only results in the growth of a 
| Mass of Suckers ; burning will kill off the leaves and young twigs, and possibly 
| ag Primaries, but in a few months it recovers; being broken up by a falling 
| 4 c%atter removal of the injured parts, produces a more vigorous growth if any- 
1 E i$; Yemaining for a week or two under water in a flood will not kill it ; and 
| a matured, it will take a severe frost to kill it entirely. While the coffee 
p is y oung, however, it can by no means be called hardy. Frequent 
smping’ or cutting back will not injure it certainly, nor will a judicious root- 
Punting kill it, but any damage to or obstruction in the way of the tap root will 
1 tance, become evident in the plant. All through the life of the tree the tap 
| qtis its most delicate feature, but more especially is this noticeable during 
“inst few years of its life. ; an 
ae the germinating bed, the nursery bed, or even subsequently, any bending 
* twisting of the tap root, whether accidentally, through carelessness, or by the 
“Uspected presence of some hard substance as rocks or stones in the field, is 
: -Deediby resented by the young coffee tree. In the growth of its tap root coffee 
= ‘ Peculiar. Unlike many plants, if the tap root meets with any substance that 
“not penetrate, it will not run laterally along it until it reaches the edge or 
issure down which it can go, but will turn again skyward and grow up 
metas the surface for a bit and then turn down again. In doing so, should it 
ate With any further obstruction or, in coming down. again, meet the original 
struction, it will endeavour to do the same again. I have seen two complete 
8; but, as a rule, the plant will die before the second loop is completed. 
slg hen any obstruction has caused the tap root thus to turn up, it mal 
th ll rise more than i inch, and will turn down again in the same line as the 
a r original stem. In doing so, it will sometimes make a complete knot, 
7" None of the illustrations, but this is unusual. Frequently, however, it turns 
1 Nother direction on coming down again, and though in so domg it forms no 
o> but what would appear to be merely a zig-zag or letter “S,” if the root be 
tefully examined, it will be found to be at the same time twisted. 
© effect of this growth on the plant above ground is generally very 
autent, While the tap root is turning in this way, very little growth, if any 
ho all, will take place above ground. ‘To one accustomed to coffee plants, 
vo, ct the check that has been given to the young tree will be easily seen, 
th Should it recover itself, and in a one or two year old clearing the ieee 
Dieke ee been badly planted, or that have damaged tap roots, can be readily 
out 
SP tea On being thus checked, the tree does not at once die. If it did so, a Brent 
Siok or time, trouble, and expense would be saved, but it will hang on, looking 
ity.) 22d weak, and frequently will apparently recover on the tap root finding 
ig vere Ownward again. The recovery may sometimes be permanent, but this 
Tare, 
ita]. & Tule, it is only temporary; for when the first demand is made on. its 
a lity Y & crop, it is CEE Be have the stamina to bear it, and either dies 
& a ts attempt to ripen it, fails to ripen it at all and drops it when half-grown, 
Yea; Pens it and has no sap or vitality left to recover, or, what is worse, takes two 
Boy, °Y more to recover sufficiently to bear another crop. Meanwhile the 
etait ©es not like to pull it up and lose three years in growing another, ects 
ral it at considerable expense in cultivation and work, while it repays him 
i €nough to cover expenses. Oi 
bo t Will be seen, Eecanes that, although this unnatural condition of root 
ting q, M@y not be evident to the grower, it is a heavy handicap that may any 
tite eng the first five or six years kill out the plantation, while a little 
Dhay 
0 to the subject will save the grower endless worry and disappointment. 
Seen several instances of fields of coffee suffering in this way, and in 
e 
