The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-03-04
How Coffee Is Cultivated.

The manner of cultivaiiDg the coffee
plant varies but little in the several
Central American States.
The coffee beans are first planted in
hot beds, from which 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 arc planted anew, i'll rows,
with a space OF from four TO six feet
between each plant. For two years
they need no more, except an occa-
sional plowing out of the weeds which
spring up around them. The third
year the plant is from three TO four
feet high, and commences to bear, pro-
ducing about pound of coffee fruit.
Each year adds to the size and pro-
ductivencss of the tree, till il reaches
about ten feet in height after which it
gives product of from 70 to &c
pounds of green fruit.
The coffee fruit resembles in shape,
size, and color, aplump cranberry, and
grows clinging closely TO the small,
lateral branches of the tree. On some
plantations the trees are dwarfcd, for
the double purpose of increasing the
fruitage and facilitating picking.
The time of picking the crop ranges
frem December 10 March. When the
fruit is ripe, all hands are employed
men. women and children-and as fast
as picked the berries arc sent to the
mills. In case of rain the kernels are
rapidly gathered under shelter, as rain
upon them Willie drying would cause
irreparablc injury; and, on some plan
tatious, machines for drying by hot air
have been introduced. After few
days III the sun, the kernels become
dry and crisp; they are then thrown
into q circular trough, large wooden
rollers, shod with iron, crush the shell
and liberate The two beans which each
shell contains. The bean has still all
other coating-its skin--which is the
hardest of all TO remove, but, through
Jong-continued attrition with the iron
shod rollers, this also is mostly re-
moved. and then the fanning-mill
cleans the bean by blowing away the
Jooscncd skin and broken shells.
Before long tables sit the natives,
young and old, chattering, laughing
singing as they work, and on these Ia
bles arc poured the beans as they come
from the fanning-mill. Each Indian
holds basket in his or her lap, and
with both hands rapidly picks out,
separately, every perfect bean, till
there remains OIL the table nothing
but broken and imperfect coilee. 1he
hands are paid at this work so much
per quintal, of 100 pounds, and skill
full pickers make good wages. LII takes
6G0 pounds of the fruit, as it comes
from the tree, to produce 100 pounds
of clean marketable coffee.
IT.
lsEMARKABLE SCENE.--The Chicago
Advocate gives an account of scene
that occurred in the Embury Metho-
dist Church at Freeport Ill.,, a few
weeks since: 'In the absence of the
paster, Joseph Cary was called upon
10 lead the prayer meeting. He opened
Che meeting with feryent prayer,
and urged the church to improve the
high privilege of addressing a throne
of grace. The meeting dragged d
little, despite the goodly number in
attendance. After a season, Brother
Cary prayed the second time, some
thing unusual with him. lie theI
arose and spoke of the Christian, ant
said that some great generals had oc
cas;onally suffered defeat; but,
shouted he, glory to God! the Chris
tian is always trimphant' The word
were scarcely uttered when he fell Il
tue floor dead.