Only Guatemalan coffee plants should be used for replanting. As most of the abandoned coffee orchards are surrounded by neglected fields or forest with guava and other plants which give shelter to rats, a definite rat control program must be undertaken. At present the most effective method of controlling rats in coffee orchards is by the use of rat poisons. Unless rats are controlled, much damage will be done by them. They chew up the growing wood of both vertical and lateral branches, destroying not only the fruits on these branches but also the growing wood which will bear the next season's crop.
Rats also do damage by eating out the pulp of the ripe coffee cherry, causing the bean to drop.
The monetary loss from rats runs into big figures if unattended. Hawaii residents may order single copies of this publication free of charge from county offices. Noel P. Kefford, Director of Institute and Dean of the College, Cooperative Extension Service, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. An equal opportunity employer providing programs and services to the citizens of Hawaii without regard to race, color, national origin or sex.