American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-12-03
COFFEE PLANTATIONS IN CUBA.

The following account Of the Coffee plantations in
Cuba, forms part of an article in the Missionary
Herald for September. 1t furnished by gen
tleman, who spent some part oil the last winter and
spring on that Island.
The coffee tree has only single stem, which
rises perpendcularly, and it is we'll filled with
branches from within foot of the ground upwards
In order that the fruit may be gathered with facility,
the tree is not suffered grow more han FIVE feet
and bali high. Its general form is conoal
coffee field is laid out with great attention TO
order and beauty. piece Of level ground is chosen
which usually has red soil, and is generally free
from stones A square, parallelogram is then
marked ont, containing from 100 TO $40 arres, to be
enclosed in hedge Of lime, pinioD, or some oher
suitable material The lime hedge is very beautl
iul being from four to six eet thick and having its
top, by iequent trimming perfect level. The
pinion is not so beautiful but takes less ROOM re.
quires less attention, makes as good fence and is
more durable.
Having defined the boundaries Of the estate, the
principal avenues through it are next laid out; and
they are generally two three or four rods wide
straight and nersecting each other at right angles.
In the finished estates, these are usually ornament
ed and shaded on each side by rows Of the orange
ctron, mango. almond avocado, and palm trees, SC
AZ the termination Of one OF these, and situated per
haps on elevated ground is the house of the planter
Smaller avenues are next made parallel with the
others. All these avenues are preserved Tree lron
weeds, and are kept smooth and neat.
Thus the whole ground is thrown into squares,
which are TO be filled with coffee plants These
having previously grown to the height Of one or two
feet, from seeds under the shade Of some grove
are carefully transpanted and are arranged in rows
parallel with the avenues, and nearly SIX feet apart,
square contains 10, 90, or $4,000 trees. By the
shird year from This time, they begin to remunerate
The panter; and at the end Of six or seven yeats
may be regarded as mature. When tree dies, a
new one takes its places but the original plantation
IS expected to live fifteen years. Among the coffee
especially when it is new, the pantan is suffered to
grow for the purpose Of giving bread to the negroes.
Here aud there, also the orange and citron trees,
lit their golden fruit above the surfaces and far
boye the rest, the privileged palm, in every direction
waves its beautiful summit.
such plantations are great splendid gardens, aud
are Justly regarded by the inhabitants as the glory
Of their island.
The plantations that are finished. contain from
100000 10 400 900 trees in each. and are wrought
by from 40 to 400 negroes; and in proportion to
the gross income, the expense of conducting them
IS said to be considerably less than that of the sugar
estates. Hence their number is more rapidly aug
menting.
The trees generally blossom in February, and in
the early part of May, and sometimes oftener but
Inc blossom, on which most dependence is placed
is he one in May. Then vast level OF surface,
white as the drilted now, is presented to the behold
er but varied and enyened by the taller trees lust
mentioned. The harvest commences in Septem-
Der, and ends in February or March. IT. within
TINS time the average OF half pound of coffee is
gathered IRON each tree, the harvest is esteemed
good.
When the berries acquire dark red color. they
are considered ripe for gathering; and the negroes,
properly equipped, are sent into the field. An in
dustrous negro will gather FIVE bushels in a day /;
and bushel in the pulp, fresh from the tree. is ex
pected TO yield at least ten pounds of good coffee.
1t is then spread upon extensive dryers made of
stone and mortar. This process requires nearly a
month. The husk or shell is then separated from
the seed in mill. which exactly resembles the
mills IN this country, where apples are ground in
circular trough by huge rolling housekeeping
That the roller for the coffee is wood, though of con
siderable weight. In few cases, machine of a
very different construction is used but it need mol,
be described.
The pulp being removed, the whole is exposed
TO the action OF fam and then Of srive alter which
the female slaves carefully pick out the defective