, 1881-11-30

161. This character tends most largely
10 assure to the Liberian the palm for
rroductiyeness.
1o2. Owing to this capacity for fruit
fuIness at various seasons, both flowers
and berries-and those, too, Iipe-are
often 10 be seen on the tree at the same
time; as however he chief Towering occurs
from December TO February, the berries
are as a rule sufficiently npe--if not fully
coloured, before the great outburst Of
flowers, and can, as indeed they should
at all times, be removed before the open
ing of new flowers,
1853. The uncertainty of the blossom
g setting fruit in the case OF Cc6ea
Arabica is only too we'll koown-even
in Ceylon, at what is regarded as suitable
elevation. 1t is still greater in the West
Indies at a necessarily very low level,
but at this same level the L'berian is
uniformly fruitful and hereby as noted
from the first. lies It's chief usefulness and
yalue. What is now wanted is a hybrid
that will possess the character Of produc-
tiyeuess at low levels combined with the
superior substance and favour OF the
bean of Cofco Arabica. The attal"meat
of sucn a variety would only result from
much patience and skill, but it Is not too
much to hope fer.
164. Tt is found that on trees more or less
shaded the berries take much longer time 10
ripep, and are much less highly coIoured than
on trees fully expcsed-on which indeed Inc
ripening with high cUlouring occurs a month or
six weeks earlier.
165. The berries produced on young vigorous
trees are o'tan over an inch through leng|hWlS',
but the beans are lot 30 much larger in propor-
ton to those Of the c.. a~rGbica, nor than the
beans borne in smaller berries either on The
same or older ,rees-on whivh indeed the
berries are invariably Of diminished size an
at the same time of greater uniformity. !
have not found in any case that an Increased
size Of the berry is accompanied with an eppre-
ciably larger bean.
l66. observe that the fruit GA the Older
trees is not only smaller than On younger trees,
but the pulp is much thinner and gcnerGlly ot
a more satisfactory character to the cuitlyaior;
il then agrees very nea rly as to size with the
sscherryn of tho Co6e0 ar d6lca, and prove!
much more susceptible of dry ing In the CHERRY"
state, Ia the manner | find II IS dealt With in
Liberia.
l67. The outer or "pulv" part oftbc Liherian
Coffee berry is extremely tough ana hard, and
suggests some u'lllculty III - Wv '
thprefrom.
168. There is also an Objectionable sickness
in the mucila inous covering OF the parchment
which greatly i~nterieres with rapid shelilng
from the pulp.
1850. In the face of this, and the fact that the
entire fruit can be readily dtled Into a Crack
ling", it would appear that the method OF
preparing the Liberian Coffee for the market Will
he in conformity with this, and t. means OF a
modified hulIing machine TO get ont the bean,
from the cracking or dried "cherry.".
ITO. The berries ripening from November
EDWARDS is here a ii cumetarce IN favour OF
this process, las also The gG;herlrg-ln the lace
of an unsteady aud expensive lahGuf) Tor, as a
rule. fine weather prevails. ~ turther aud
remarkable feature 10 favour ut this process Is
the non -fermentable character OF The lftsh
fruit-its surfa ce being dry-by wtloh amasslNg
for convenience in unsteady weather would be
largely practicable.
III. As TO the character Of the crackIlrg
Coffee in respect of hulling as compared with
that of the ordinary Coffee, the difference Is
NOT in favour of the Libe,ian. Dealing with
cracking Coffee as suggested above, aud which
has been carefully observed, 1t is found that In
a mound of Liberian Coffee in this form the
weight of the beans is y ozs. while the weight
of the refuse cracking hull and parchment Is
81 ozs.
ICofeo arabicaI the weight of b. ans is IL ozs.,
while the weight Of refuse cracking bull and
.rarcbment is only 5 CTS. The waste tissue in
r;ha,;an ~ flee lis therefore about 10 per cent