Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-05-25
Costa Rioa Coffee Growing.

The manner of cultivating the coffee
plant varies but little in the several
Central American States, and a short
sketch Of how this favorite beverage
is produced, may be interesting to all
good coffee drinkers.
The coffee beans are first planted in
hot-bcds, from which, IN few months,
they sprout and shoot up five or six
inches high, when they are removed
singly, and taken to the fields which
have been prepared to receive them
There, the young sprouts are planted
anew, in rows, with a space of from
four to six feet between each plant.
For two years they need no more care,
except an occasional plowing out OF
the weeds which spring up around
them. The third year the plant is
from three 10 -four feet high, aud com.
mences to bear, producing about a
pound of coffee fruit. Each year adds
to the size and productiveness of the
tree, till it reaches about ten feet in
height; after which it gives a product
of from twenty to thirty pounds of
green fruit.
The coffee fruit resembles in shape,
size, and color a plump cranberry,
and grows clinging closely TO the
small, lateral branches Of the tree; so
that the hand can strip off at once the
fifty or more berries branch may
boar. On some plantations the trees
are dwaried, for the double purpose
Of increasing the fruitagc and facili-
tating the picking.
The time Of picking the crop varies,
according to the locality, but ranges
on this coast, from December to
March. When the fruit is ripe, all
hands are cmployed-men, women,
and childrcn--and, as fast as picked,
the berries arc sent to tho mills,
which, arranged something like corn
shelters, remove the pulpy coverings
freeing the kernels, which are i'm.
mediatcly spread out in the sun to
dry. At this time the skies are
watched carefully, and in case of rain,
the kernels are rapidly gathered under
shelter, as rain upon them, while dry
ing, would cause an irreparablo in.
jury; and upon some plantations,
machines for drying by hot air have
been introduced After a few days
in the sun, the kernels become dry
and crispy; they are then thrown
into circular trough, and large
wooden rollers shod with iron, crush
the shell aud libcrato the two beans
which each shell contains. Tho bean
has still another coaling-its scin-
which is the hardest of all 10 remove,
but through long continued attrition
with the iron shod rollers, this also, is
mostly removed, aud then the flaming.
mill cleans the bean, by blowing away
the looscned skin and broken shells
But the most expensive part Of the
process is now TO come Before long
tables sit the natives, young and old,
chattering, laughing aud singing as
I they work, and on these tables are
poured the beans as they como from
the ianning-mill. Each Indian holds
a basket in her or his lap, and with
both hands rapidly picks ont, scpa.
ratcly, every perfect bean, till there
remains on the table nothing but bro,
Ken and imperfect coffee, Of no value.
The hands arc paid, at this work, SO
much per quintal, Of one hundred
/ pounds, and skillful piokors mako
good wages IL takes 600 pounds OF
the fruit, as il comes from the tree
to produce one hundred pounds oI
clean marketable coiicc-and yet il
pays.-From Mcric0 to costa Rica.-
OualaRd Monthly for May.