Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-09-29
CoFPgE Growing.


A gentleman who travelled through the
principal coffee plantations in Brazil in
1874 furnishes some very interesting points
in regard to the cultivation of coffee, and
also the country and climate. He says
the soil that is considered the best to plant
the coffee trees is In dark-brown, sandy
loan, but the reddish colored soil (some
what similar to that of Ceylon, though not
so dry and hardy, is also considered TO be
excellent. The plantations are from l 500
1000 feet above the level of the sea, and
are generally situated in mountainous re-
gions, on the side of hills and on plateaus.
The size of plantations differ considerably,
as they range from 500 to ?, 500 or 5000
acres. The coffee tree when full grown
stands from seven to ten feet high, with
branches extending six to eight feet from
the bottom. On each branch, between every
two leaves, there is bunch OF about a
dozen pods, somewhat resembling in size
and form the edible part of = cherry in
side of which, in the shape of a pit, is
thin shell. like covering, containing the
coffee beans, of which there are two varie-
ties, namely, fat bean and pea berry,
so-called from its similarity to a pea. This
latter variety there is in very limited guam.
tity to be obtained, and it's difference from
the common fat bean is said to result from
the delicacy of the tree, though the fine
appearance and qualities of the berry COM
mand higher price. The trees are planted
in rows, and on each twenty-four feet
square large shade tree is planted, which
must have a large trunk and moderate
crown. Around the trunk of the coffee
tree a hole from ten to twelve inches deep
is dug, in order to provide for the rain and
moisture. The coffee tree produces after
three years few beans, but on the fourth
year double the quantity of the preceding,
and in five years 1t is generally full grown,
and yields according to its age and the soil
and climate in which it is planted. Some
trees produce from two and half to three
pounds each, and there are trees yielding
from one to thiTty-two pounds each, while
many raise from ten to fifteen pounds
apiece. A large number are said to have
produced from eight to ten pounds clean
coffee to tree, The following provinces
are where the principal coffee plantations
are situated Rio Janeiro, Santos, Campi.
mas, st. Paulo and Miuas. In Santo the
country is very fine, and railroads have
greatly improved the transportation of the
of the greatest wants OF the country for
long time was laberers. When the rail-
roads began to extend their operations
through the provinces it liberated host OF
hands those who were formerly engaged
in mule driving were then employed IN the
cultivation of coffee on the plantations.
The Santos coffee is used very largely in
Europe, and is of somewhat milder flavor
than other Brazil coffees. The province OF
Santos produces from l. 900, 600 to 2, 600, 600
bags of coffee
Some idea of the immensely of these
plantations may be inferred when it is
stated that on this plantation in question
there are said to be $50, 900 acres including
nearly 200, 900 young trees from one to three
years olS The railroad facilities are very
effective - bringing the coffee to market,
and the gradual abolition of slavery In the
Brazils is doing much to extend the Won
derful trade of this staple production.
Since September, 1871, all children born in
the kingdom are free, though the Govern
ment agrees that their services up to the
age of twenty one years shall belong to the
fazenda or planter, who by good treatment
expects to retain their future services for
fair remuneration.
The province of Minas, another large
coffee-producing region, has an area OF
200, 900 pquare miles or more, with about
from l,5O0, 900 to 2000,0 600 inhabitants
1.-THE best populated district in the Brazils)
and most salubrious climate. The eleva-
ton is about =, 900 to 9, 300 feet, and the
coffee trees after six years growth average
from one and quarter to one and half
pounds per tree, which is much below st.
Paulo, although on some plantations they
have Welded upward of fifteen pounds per
tree. In MinAs but little fertilization is
used, and the trees are planted from ten to
eleven feet apart to the square, and when
full grown are from ten to twelve feet high.
The soil is mostly of a reddish nature.
Minas, which contains some splendid views
and picturesque places, together with it's
tropical plants, is well worthy of visit
from the tourist. Among the great plan
tations of Brazil, which have a worldwide
reputation, that of the Frazenda St. Anna,
belonging to the Baron de Bonito, is said to
be the best conducted and most profitable
establishment in the province of Rio ia
metro. The proprietor owns four planta-
tions closely lying together and containing
several million of trees. Every depart
ment and every detail connected with it is
very systematically arranged, and the labor
is, therefore, made productive with very
few hands. The number of laborers en-
ployed on this estate is estimated at 900,
including men, women and children.
From Brazil, which is one of the finest
countries in the world and which produces
the largest crop of coffee, the United States
is said to have imported in 1882 over 2, 500,
900 bags. Four years ago the estimated
area of acres under cultivation was l 800,
600 which annually produced about 5,O0O,-
600 bags of coffee, though at the present
time of writing Brazil, it is said, produces
annually about 1000, 900 bags on vast
area nndar cnltivatinn- Il New Enoland