The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-10-08
Liberian Coffee.

The species of coffee which is indigo
nous to Liberia, in West Africa, seems
destined to have an important influence on
the industry of those countries in which
the coffee blight has almost extinguished
the Arabian coffee plant. A little pamph-
let by DIR. III. A. A. Nichols. gives some
interesting information on the cultivation
of Liberian coffee in the West Indies, and
especially in Dominica. The plant was
first grown in England in the Royal Gar
dens at Kew, during the year 1872, and
from thence seedlings were forwarded, in
1874, to Dominica and to several of the
colonies in the West Indies. Fifty years
ago Dominica was essentially coffee
country; at one time, indeed, over 3,00O,-
600 pounds of this staple were exported
annually, and the coffee was of so fine a
quality that the Dominica produce usually
obtained the highest price in English
markets. Unfortunately, however, early in
the present century, a Blight attacked the
trees, and within few years it committed
such raVages that the cultivation of coffee
became almost extinct Naturally, on the
introduction into Dominica of new spe-
cies of coffee, more vigorous than that of
Arabia, hopes were entertained that the
leaves would be impervious to the ravages
OF the blight, and these hopes, happily,
were fully realized, for the young plants
soon shot up into vigorous large shrubs,
free from blight, and loaded with flowers
and ripe and unripe berries This immu-
nifty from blight enjoyed by Liberian cof-
fee is, as DR.. Nichols says, of the utmost
Importance to the welfare of Dominica and
the neighboring colonies, both English and
French, for there is now nothing to pre-
vent the islands Of the Lesser Antilles
from being once more large cofFee-supply-
ing countries. In Dominica the cultiva-
ton of coffee may be said to be re-estab-
lished, although it is only yet in its infan-
cy, and the produetiyeness of the Liberian
trees is matter Of astonishment to those
of the older residents, who remember the
coffee estates of 40 years ago. The Libe-
rian coffee plant IS much larger than that
of Arabia, being, in its native state, small
tree. 1t has several other characteristics
which render its cultivation different from
that Of its Arabian congener, and give it
several advantages, all in favor of the
planter. Its leaves are much larger; it
flowers for several months, so that flowers
and berries may be found on the same
plant, and the berries are twice the size
Of the ordinary coffee bean. The ripe
berries do net fall from the tree, like the
ordinary coffee plant, but remain on the
tree, without detriment to their quality,
for weeks, an important feature where it
may be difficult to procure the labor me-
cessary for speedy gathering DIR. Mich
oils gives many useful details as to the
mode Of cultivation aud preparation. The
favor Of the coffee, he maintains, is ex-
cellent, and he adduces evidence to show
that il is quite as good as Java coffee.
The success Of the Liberian coffee in Do
miniea has been so great that already large
supplies Of berries are exported to several
neighboriDg islands The history Of the
establishment of the new cultivation, DIR.
Nichols tells us, is full of promise to the
future of the island The plant is thor
oughly acclimatized, the young trees are
unaffected by blight, and their fruitfulness
surpasses all expectations. In the island
there are many abandoned estates, and
large tracts Of virgin soil, well watered
with fine streams, eminently adapted for
the cultivation of coffee and lines and
other tropical plants. The plant has also
been introduced into Ceylon, and Liberian
coffee from that island has lately obtained
OBS. per huudred-weight in New York
market-that is, Us. above the quotation
at the time for middliRg plantation Ceylon
(Arahian) coffee to the London markets.