Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-19
THE COFFEE CROP.
Estimates of the Yield in the Various
Producing COuntries-The Area
Of Cultivation.
The Various Causes at Work to Affect
the Crop and Prices
Insect Rayages.

| however, seems 10 De keeping
pace with production, some two hundred and
twenty million kilos being used in Europe in
1879 in excess OF the quantity consumed in
1873. The reduction OF the duties on coffee
in France has tended to greatly increase the
demand.
"Of all the producing countries, Brazil
shows the greatest development; even
since 1877 it has increased its exports on
an immense scale, owing to the high
prices obtained in 1874 and the increased
railway facilities, improved methods of
cultivation, etc. 1t Is stated, however, that
one-third the crop is now lost, as hands
enough are not 10 be had. The question of
slave labor is now one only OF time, and un-
| less there Is some means found to solve that,
the crop OF the future will be higher priced
| In the meantime, however, crop of three
| hundred million kilos IL announced, with a
| reserve of seventy-two million kilos of fer
mer crop, and this has had depressing ef-
feet on the market. The labor question
| must have commanding influence There
are one million four hundred thousand
slaves, but the number is growing rapidly
| less by emancipation, etc. Chinese iuAmi-
| grafton is attended by great disadvantages.
| while European is confined to a few thou
sand Italians. The coffee plant is subject,
since 1877, to disease that kills it off in a
| short time; but owing to the enormous plant
| ing since 1874, the rayages have not appeared
in their true extent In fact, both the pro-
| duction OF coffee in Brazil and the
economic condition of the empire are rap
| idly approaching a crisis.
THE Dutch Indies form the next great
producing country. The exports in lS79-SO
| were seventy-seven million five hun
dred and five thousand three hundred
| and lightweight kilos. The cultivation
of the plant by the government has had the
effect of depressing the general production
| The present method of forcing the natives TO
grow coffee and then sell it at half price to the
| Dutch Society is profitable to the govern
| ment and other parties that 1t will be diff
! cult matter to change the system. The
growth of the plant in Sumatra is nov being
pushed forward actively, and the plantations
| have quadrupled within few years. The
| plant is at present exposed to the ravages of
three different insects, but the totalitv of the
damage is not at present very great.
The cultivation of coffee in the English
possessions-Ceylon, SIM apore and various
parts of the Indian empire-has made marked
progress, the expectation now reaching one
hundred and sixty million pounds The
area of the cultivation has extended north
ward as far as the Nilgherries and is increas-
ing in Mysore, along the coast of Malabar
etc. Here, however, as In Ceylop, the plant |
ers have to count with the hemiIeys. The |
coffee has been planted in the island for a |
long period, but it is only within the past |
twenty-five years that the export has in |
creased, owing, in a great measure, to the |
abolition of tax. Before lS69-70, CeylOn |
exported one million nine thousand two hun
bred and six hundred weight, but in S76-77
The exports fell off to seven hundred and
pinety-seven thousand seven hundred and
sixty-three hundred weight The soil Of
the i.land is very fruitful, the climate
favorable to the plant labor both abundant
and cheap, communication is easy, and CAPT
tai practically inexhaustible, while the
growers themselves understand generally the
scientific cultivation of coffee. In fact,
knowledge OF the chemical constituents of
the soil is requisite for success, rnd, ewing to
these facts, the Ceylon planters were cited as
models for the growers in other Countries
But the terrible insect, the hemiLeyG 1astdtriE,
caused a loss Of from 12,000,00 to 4l50 00,-
900 in the period since 1870. Various methods
have been tried to destroy the plague, but
with success. The first signs are krots and
swellings on the flaments. The bark and
leaves should then be sprinkled with mix
ture of lime and sulphur in the proportion OF
three or two to one. Fumigations have also
been tried. Unfortunately, the insect was
transplanted in 1876 from Ceylon to the
Indian mainland, and now threatens the
plantations there. 1t is especially hurt
full in poor soils that are exposed TO
the sun. Everything that can be done
to destroy the insect has been tried, but
the impotence of science against the phyl-
loxera in France shows the difficulty of the
task.
'The coffee plant is now cultivated on
a large scale IN Natal, but here also kind
of mouldiness attacks the bark. In Sierra
Leone some progress has been made, but the
general insalubrity of the climate will him
der any great extension. The experiments
in Liberia are said to be more satisfactory.
"The exports of coffee from Cuba were at
one time very large, but now the importations
exceed the expectations. One hundred thou
sand hundredweights are imported into
Havana. The causes here are social and
political. Not more than one hundred and
sixty five thousand hundredweights are ex-
ported from Porto Rico; and in this case also
want of capital and good communications
are the causes Of the neglect. The Porto Rico
coffee is of peculiar excellence, but little
known outside Of Spain and Cuba The cult
walton in the Philippine Islands would be
much more extensively engaged in but for the
hurricanes to which the islands are ex posed. |
In 1879 some ten million pounds were ship
ped to Spain, etc. We now come 10 Hayti,
where the coffee-plant constitutes the great
of the republic. In 1879 there
we're seven thousand eight hundred planta-
lions in the country, but the production at
present is not over sixty million pounds | .
The soil is especially favorable to the plant,
put revolutions are not The Republic of
San Domingo exports some eight hundred ,
thousand pounds.
Among the new producing countries
Venezuela occupies a prominent place. :
It's exports would be much larger
ance of the Hispano-American republics. !
The crop of 1S79'S0 was not less than ten :
million pounds. New plantations have been ! !
made in the eastern part OF Cumana, and
most satisfactory results have been already
obtained. Here, too, however, the plant is
attacked in the warm and Iow-lying dis |
ricts by disease termed naancha de C
,ierrd, and also by another disease a
allied caa4eliHo, and which is OF l
ungous character. Still, great ad- /
yances in The area of cultivation, etc, are /
icing made. '
"The United States of Colombia ex- |
,orts from eighteen to twenty million Ii
emily introduced in the province of Chiri- il
Iui, where the mountain slopes afford the A
'est possible soil for its growth. The price t
Il lands is low, labor is cheap, and there is t,
team communication with Panama. The i.
reat cause Of anxiety is the disease above t,
eferred to-the candetilo, so called from its I
appearance at night. d
THE coffee production of jamaica large d
s it is, is not equal to what it was before the "
BOLTON of slavery. In 1905 the exports
mounted to twentysix million pounds. The >.
Otal production now is not more than ten to II
leven million pounds. Despite the bad care q
estowed on the plant by the planters, who a
re mostly negroes, there are not any dis a.
asses worth mentioning. plantation OF y
ne hundred and seventy acres in the neigh II
orhood OF Kingston is quoted as giving five f
thousand seven hundred and eighty -four 4
asses, or one hundred and twenty eight tierces h
f cleaned coffee equivalent to nine hundred
nd twenty-five cuts, and producing :,
$500. The cultivation in the re- IL
5,.s- I'D Il I q
irded by a disease called the eiiRiost0ma y
,feeLlim, terrible name for dangerous o.
nemy. The yield in Martinique is at present p
cry small, not more than twelve hundred %
ores being given up to its cultivation. 70
turns out two million pounds OF ia
pcellent quality. The exports from Bour- 10
on are fluctuating, one million five hundred u
lousand pounds being the highest figure, =
uracoa and French Guyane produce a small
uantity of excellent coffee. n
ARABIA exports some twelve million II
ounds annually by three routes-the Red N
"a, etc, Syria, and by Nedjed. The country al
the Gallas Is also coming into the market L
coffee seller. Is
THE islands of ST. Thomas Gulf of Guinea CT
nd the coast will soon contribute a larger Il
rportation, especially when the railroad hi
ON Loando to Ambaca will be opened. In pl
anzibar the island, the plant is now grown. IN
iberia Is sending most of her production Ne
low six million pounds to the United
.ates, and it is thought that this coffee may tn
on prove great rival to Java. The diff III
llties raised by the Madagascar government OF
ave prevented European attempts at grow th
Q in the island In
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SENATORIAL ANECDOTES. G
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smar's Fight with =" Uncle Jimmy th
Wade Hampton's Fist-Fight. la
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