, 1881-08-17

eZaIInAFfan COffec.-Tbe epecies Of coffee
ssnwh1ohf s indigenous TO Liberia, in West Africa
s~fseens destined to have an important influence
on the Industry of those countries in which the
Ecofee-blight has almost e%xtinguished the
Arabian coffee plant. A little pamphlet by
Dr.. "a. A. A.. Mic holls, just published by
4Messrs. Silver and Co.. 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 Gardens at Kew during
the year 1872, and from thence seedlings wers
forwarded In 1874 to Dominica and to several
Of the colonies in the West Indies. Fifty
years ago Dominica was essentially a coffee
country; at one time, indeed, over three
million pounds of this staple Were exported
annually, and the coffee country at one time,
indeed, over three million pounds Of this staple
were exported annually, and the COTE was of
80 fine a quality that the Dominica produce
usually obtained the highest price 10 the
English market. Unfortunately. however,
early in the present century a blight at
tackled the trees, and within a few years it
commited-such ravage that the cultivation OF
coffee became almost extinct. Naturally, on
the Introduction into Dominica of a new species
Of coffee, more vigorous than that of Arabia,
hopes were entertained that the leaves would
be imoervious 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 unfipe berries. This i'm
muniiy from blight enjoyed by Liberian coffee
is, as Dr.. Nichols Says, of the utmost impor-
ance to the welfal of Dominica and the neigh
bouriDg colonies, both English and French, for
there is now nothing TO prevent the Islands OF
the lesser Antilles from beiug once more large
cofee-supplyin countries. In Dominica the
cultivation of coffee may be said to be re-
established, although i is only yttin its infancy,
and the produo'iveness of the Liberian trees
Is a matter of astonishment to those Of the
older residents, who remember the coffee estates
of forty wears ago. The Liberian coffee plant
ia much larger than that of Arabia, being,
indeed, In it's native state, a small tree. 1t
has several other characteristics which rsnder
its cultivation different from that otis Arabian
congener, end gives it several advantages all
10 favour 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 sizs of the
ordinary coffee bean. The ripe berries do not
fall from the tree, like The ordinary coffee
plant, but remain on the tree, without detri-
ueHt W tneF qually, lot NeehS all ADpoFIaht
feature where it may be difficult to procure the
labour necessary for speedy gathering. DR..
Nichols gives many useful details as to the
mode of cultivation and preparation. The fa-
.vour of the coffee, he maintains, is excel
lent, and be adduces evidence to show that it
is quite as good as Java coffee. The success
Of the Liberian coffee in Dominica las been
so great that already large supplies of berries
are exported to several neighbouriug islands.
The history of the establishment Of the new
cultivation, DIR. Nichols tells US, is full of
promise to the future of the island. TIE
plant is thoroughly acclimatized, the young
trees are unaffected by blight, and their
fruitfulness SURPRISES all expectations. In
the island there are many abandoned estates
and large tracts of virgin soil, we'll watered
with ine 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 9Ss. per
cwt In the New York market-that is, 12s.
above the quotation at The time for middlipg
plantation Ceylon LArabian coffee to the
London markets. - Times.