216 [1 Man, 100) 
QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 
most cases the soil, climate, or locality was blamed. I have also had shown 
boxes of coffee seedlings grown in a veranda. Now, coffee seed Wi a 
shallow box of mould frequently germinate readily in this way thou 
the plants grow well to start with, if not put out into a nursery be 
young, they must unavoidably have their tap roots bent in time, 
seedlings, therefore, are very seldom to be trusted. However hardy 
tree may be when mature, not only will it pay for but it requires some atten 
when young for its successful cultivation. 
Much the most satisfactory results will be obtained by growers if, a 
stated in my paper on seed germination, they raised their own plates mt 
should it be found necessary for any reason to purchase plants, they i 
well to go to one that, as far as possible at any rate, makes the raising ‘he | 
cultivation of coffee a specialty. In buying plants, if possible, see them ™ 
bed before purchase ; if this is impracticable, at_ any rate do not conside? | 
because so much per 1,000 was paid for them that they are all Pea 
plants, but examine the roots before planting, and avoid the is fot | 
disappointment of putting out those with twisted and knotty roots. Loa | 
the young plant of some five to seven months old and 6 to 9 inches p | 
thick stemmed, with very little of the base of the stem showing mature ¢f |\ ee 
«A healthy plant of this age will have half or more of its stem green aD ial i 
and a space between the green and the brown bark of reddish half-mat wor) 
wood, and the brown bark itself loose and flaky. Pull up a plant or tWO7, 4 | 
looking stunted, for instance—and see whether the roots are straight. thet | 
not necessary to examine all in a bed, but, if the packing for transport oF ° oot | 
causes gives you the opportunity, certainly avail yourself of it and see that? 4a | 
are as depicted in the plate. Avoid the thin-stemmed plant with the ee f. 
hard bark, matured right up to within an inch or two of the head; also ae 
the plant that has made primaries. Having made primaries, a plant may" s, | 
make a good tree, but extra care is necessary, unless stumping or pencil We | 
resorted to, and a large ball of earth taken with it. Such plants will net ‘q 
always, however, droop, and frequently the young primaries die off, as: |) 
case no others will grow in the same eyes, and the result is an umbrella tree | 
one that has no primaries within two feet or more of the ground. They, ii) oe 
suffer from wind, allow weed-growth under them, &c., and never be as stul vd = 
strong as those that make their primaries in the field where they are t0 P| 
the rest of their lives. Fe iq 
avo™ | 
In transplanting seedlings or young plants, it is often impossible t? whe | 
the falling away of the earth round the root and consequent damage 10, © dhe | 
lateral or tap roots. In such cases care must be exercised in placiMa” 
laterals when replanting, and in pruning back the tap root. 
root that eventually becomes a twist or loop as shown in the plate, ape | q 
is possible to have the earth on the roots, as shown in the plate with tee | i 
and cost of transport are somewhat more. The “ ball” or brick of earth a 
not be quite so large, in packing plants for long journeys, as that dep 0 
of the 
prea 
ut 
em, wil 0 
almost any distance without any check to their growth. Tig. II. shows ® case 
plants thus packed ready for transport, but with the end of the box re to 
and lying on one side, and the top covering of Hessian folded back, the bet et 
illustrate the method of packing with the brick of earth and the undistu® 
roots. 
