The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-04-04
THE CULTIVATION OF COFFEE.

A correspondent suggests that we follow up
our article Of last week on coffee markets, by
some statements as 10 the mode of cultivation.
We are OF the opinion that a discussion of the
subject Just now win not be out of place, not only
in view Of the enhanced price which coffee at
present commands in the markets of the world
and which it must continue TO command for
many years 10 come-but also in consideration of
the fact that the blight, which for twenty years
past has almost entirely put a stop to planting
here, is now declared TO be virtually ended.
The coffee tree will thrive in most of the soils
to be found on these Islands, though it does best
in rich ground the ~decomposed lava, Of which
the lands in Kona, Hawaii, are composed appears
to be best suited to its healthy and profitable
growth. 1t requires to be sheltered from strong
winds, and the soil must be sufficiently deep
say two and a half to three feet-to allow for the
top-root. Not only does the coffee shrub suffer
from the violence of the trade winds, but too
much tropical sun is detrimental to it, SO that in
some countries, as in the West Indies, the prac-
tice has been to plant rows of shade trees through
a plantation but this plan has never been fol-
lowed in this comparatively temperate climate.
In preparing TO form a coffee plantation, the
best plan will be to IN with n nursery for
young plants, to be subsequently transplanted.
Transplanting has been found to improve the
growth of the tree not a little. The seed for the
nurseries should be selected from the best, thor
Oughly ripe berries, from healthy and full grown
trees. and planted almost fresh. The berries are
not fully ripe until they are of a deep red color.
Cover the seeds not over an inch deep in we'll
pulverized Dam In a months time the young
plants will appear, the root striking down and
the berry coming up, after the fashion of beans,
until at the height of a couple of inches, when
the busk falls off and two round leaves appear
The greatest obstacle now will be insects, but IL
the ground has been well turned over at the
outset, the trouble from these will be but triffne.!
The nursery must of course be kept thoroughly
weeded.
When the young plants are from twelve to
fifteen inches high, they are ready for transplant
ing, and this should be done during the rainy
season. when there is loss sun than ut other
times. To transplant during the summer season,
when the trees are growing and throwing out
nov "oOd, 80 r-ssty s-- 90 eet .4Lena B~sL
entire season, even if the heat of the sun does not
kill them.
Coffee trees should be set out not less than
eight feet apart, and at right angles to each other.
This distance between the trees is necessary in
order to afford room for the operations of weed
ing, pruning, and gathering the crop, and more
over to insure a free circulation of air. The
land should be lined off metho Ideally, and the
care taken in this respect will be amply repaid
by the beautiful appearance of the plantation
when grown. The ground being lined and pegs
inserted where the trees are to stand, dig holes at
o,,b e. H. II
inches in diameter; then bring the plants from
the nursery, taking care that some earth remains
about the roots of each, and place one in each
hole. Then holding the plant perpendicularly
with one hand fill the earth in with the other,
treading it firmly around the plant. The only
care now required is to keep down the weeds,
for the next two years, during which time crops
of vegetables may be grown between the rows
with advantage, but not beyond that period,
when the tree will require all the nourishment of
the soil itself. In some parts of Kona, Hawaii,
the practice is to lay down dry fern leaves, six
inches thick between the trees, which efectually
prevents the growth OF weeds, helps to enrich the
soil, and keeps it moist.
When about two years old (from the time of
transpianting) the tree will generally bear a
small crop, but after the fourth year it will bear
fully. When three years old, the trees should be
= topped" or otherwise they will grow to an
inconvenient height for gathering the crop. Al
three years the trees should be from FIVE to six
feet high, and the operation of topping is per-
formed by simply cutting off the crown or top of
the tree, whereby its growth upward is stopped
and it is induced to grow stronger in the lateral
ON which the berries grow. If not
pruned or topped, the coffee tree in favorable
localities will grow to the height of twenty feet,
running more to wood than TO fruit.
The quantity of coffee that can be obtained
from a tree in full bearing, varies of course with
soil and situation. AS high as twenty or even
thirty pounds have been reported in former years
from WaIluku, Maui, and Hilo, Hawaii, as hav-
ing been gathered from a single tree, but from
three to five pounds per annum is considered a
fair product in Kona. The tree, so far as known,
to bear for thirty, and sometimes ffty
years.
As to the manner of drying and preparing
for market-in Kona it is dried whole in
the sun, as it comes from the tree, and at the
expiration of several months is Invested of the
hull by being pounded in mortars. A Kauai
some twenty years ago, described the
process adopted by him, as follows
The coffee is Invested of its outer skin and pulp,
by being passed between a cylinder, on which a
stream Of water is kept falling, and a bar of wood
lined with metal; it is then soaked for twenty-four
hours, washed, dried and passed through the peeIing
mill; by this last operation it is Invested of the
parchment and silver skin; it is then Hinnowed and
packed for market. Coffee requires FIVE or six DAYS
Uninterrupted fine weather to cure it; consequently,
when the crop is large, extensive terraces or plat
orms are required TO spread it on; but 1t is difficult
o find anything at once durable and cheap, that will
lnswer this purpose. 1 have hitherto used terraces
Dade of common stones, plastered with mortar. The
'rest objection attending these is, that being exposed
o the action Of the weather, they frequently need
epairing Sand and small pieces of mortar are
of and mixed with the coffee, rendering it .