New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-19
GOLFER RAISING IN INDIA.
VISIT TO A PLANTATION IN THE NEIL
CHERRIES.

VISIT TO A PLANTATION IN THE NEIL
CHERRIES.
lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRDuNhI
ALLAHABAD, India July 6.-Along tho
southwestern coast Of India, known az Malaoar COAST
range of mountains than 500 miles Id length
with elevation Of 800 feet above the sea- calico sns
Western Ghants Parallel with the southeastern o.
known Is the Eastern Ghauta Forming . INK petweon
these two ranges. rises magnificent OF mountains
called the Heilgherries, Blue Mountains. These
noble mountains have higher altitude than any other
south OF the Himalayas and every side around tner
base stretches dense jungle, the habitat Of the wild
elephant, the tiger, and many other savage beasts.
These tans popular resort for the people o.
Southern India were almost unknown to Europeans 40
the beginning Of the present century About the year
1919 they drst assembled by two revenue ohcers
Tobacco had long time been smuRged across these
mountains to Western coast and determined pos
sble. to find the path by which the marauders crossed
to and fro these gentlemen. with the help Of gudes
climbed by steep and rugged paths to the summit end
to their surprise and delight found upon these heights
lovely country, comprising hill and dale.
forest and meadow, stream ana water1an
Invigorated by bracng air and enchanted with the
charming scenery upon their return these ofoe gave
their countrymen glowing descriptions OF the newly
discovered land.
These stately mountains important purposes By
condensng intorain the vapors borne upon the two
periodical winds called from the seas OF Arabia
aud Bengal and sending them In fertzing streams 70
bless the parched plans The elevation OF these noun
tans 800 feet above the and their position nnu'
enced by both combine to produce one OF tho
most equable and temperate climates in the WORLD
anordng delightful retreat to invahds languishmg
under the burning heat Of tho plains
The summit OF these mountains forms an undulaang
tabeland about forty miles long from north TO soufh
with an average breadth Of about fifteen miles nom easo
to west When these fair tabeands were discovered ~
Europeans they inhabited by several quite distnct
races numbering In all $4,000 or $4,000 souls These
peoples had fields their nocks, their rude homes,
and even their temples.
1t my privilege not long ago, to spend few weeks
the Nesherres The pleasant cottage which was the
homo Of my host situated upon the brow OF nis
and In the valley below the native town and bassr
With the Light of the morning vision Of rare lovehness
burst upon Over the verandas Of the cottage roses
climbed and twined MAS Of fragrant bloom. Through
the valley Of water threaded its way sparkling
In the light Hero was Q belt Of trees; there green
glade Over hill and dale wound pleasant paths ana
wekept roads, many of which were hedged with roses
in full bloom. On the hilsdes were pretty cottages In
the midst Of gardens where growing In bswdsrng
profusion and luxuranoe such flowers - In less genial
chimes are cultivated with tho greatest care.
THE PATRON SAINT OF MOCHA.
"what those fields Of shining green on the sur
rounding slopes T. asked.
"Conee and tea; chiefly coffee" was the answer. Tssr
had seen growing on the Hmsayas, but here on these
beautiful Blue Mountains saw coffee plantation nor
the time The wealthy proprietor Of the largest ana
finest estate these mountains kindly offered 70 take
mo with party Of his friends to spend the day on one
Of his plantations Coffee 1t 10 said, was introduced into
Arabia Africa, ct tho end Of the fifteenth century,
In the year 1880 noted sheikh settled the sea- on
the plain the site of tho town Of Mocha and n rep
utaton drew around him great numbers until village
was formed He recommended the Of coffee, and has
in consequence since been regarded - the patron
saint Of Mocha When Csylon became British posses-
sion considered valuable mainly for it pearls ana
spices pearl fishery of tho Island has ceased "a
be profitable and the trade In cinnamon has dscued
Coffee 10 new the great staple Of the island Coffee u
said 10 have been introduced India about two
turtles ago. by o pilgrim returning from Meccs but Is
wasnot cultivated until the beginning OF the presen1
century, and then only BY natives The first coffee gar
den opened by an English planter was In
the State of Mysore, about forty years ago.
Tho experiment proving . success, others were
induced to turn their attention to this department OF
industry and since the year 1860 the business mas rap
idly developed ;
Coffee requires q warm, damp climate good soil ana
an elevation two to four thousand feet above the
sea; but sometimes successfully grown at higher Oh"
ttude The for sowing must be put into
the ground quite fresh, they soon lose their germ
mating power The seed lie In nursery In Decem
ber and the young plants mako their appearance about
month later In six months they are removed
from the nursery to the plantation. where they are
placed ia eight feet apart During the nrst
year wedding required In the second year they
are topped" the coffee plant In gardens 10 nos
allowed 20 attain height Of more than three or four
feet though left unprunsd the plant grows fifteen and
even eighteen feet high The plants begin to bear In the
third year. but are full maturity until the seventh
or eighth year. The flowers are white and very ira
grant Nine or months eapse between the bossoming
Il tt, altcfn nd
when full size and still green resembles small Olives
When ready to be gathered fruit In color and size
not unlike cherry. and by this name 1t called Under
the flesh pulp OF the cherry are two seeds which grow
with their fat surfaces toward each other These SEEDS
or beans are covered with agutnous substance beneath
| which is nne white parchrnent-like skim Sometimes
within a cherry only Of the two germs comes 70 ma
turtv This takes rounded form and is called peabery
coffee and In the London market commands ahigh prioe
With its dark green and wdespreadng branches
coffee tree looks not unlike young apple tree wnen
fully grown the OF the tree Is ten or twelve incnes
In The tree continues fruitful for twenty
years. and even for longer period, under favorable
| circumstances
FROM PLANTATION TO MARKET.
The plantation OF Runnymede, to which we were con-
Quoted IL one the oldest we'll IS the largest on tho
Neilgherres containing 100000 fruit-besrfng trees
An elder brother OF the present proprietor planted the
trees ON this estate when the white man was Just
beginning to away the forest and jungle from tns
ovely mountain land On occasion this brother Id
visiting his estate left his horse tied under tree 10
the shade while to distant part OF the pantar
ten 10 direct the aborcrs When he returned he FOUND
only the manged remains Of his faithful beast some
wild ANIMAL probably tiger having improved his so-
sence to secure feast for himself On the Negherness
the entire cost Of bringing 100 acres into bearing from
Jungle land is about $4,000 On these mountains the
coffee SESSION lasts from October TO May Upon the
same stock we saw the pure white BLOSSOM the green
fruit and the ripe, red cherry. The average yield OF
plantation is about three acre OF mature plant
The berries are pucked BY hand and carried In baskets
to the puping At the time OF our wis., quany
Of cherries had Just been brought in to be puped.
This was performed by machinery the berries
-, =. aa.. aawn n shoof into which 0 stream OF water