Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-01-24
COFFEE CULTURE.
RAISING THE BERRY ON "A
BRAZILIAN PLANTATION.
An Interesting Detailed Accom-.
of How 1t is Treated from
Seed Planting to the END
of the Gathering.

places free from frost, are CHOSEN, nv
terra rocha preferred; and If this SOIL Is
gravelly and rocky, it is even better.
When designed for coffee, the clearing
is more thorough, and care is taken IN
Telling the trees. Should the largest
escape the fire, they are cut down; moth
ing Is let standing. On a suitable occa-
sion, during a hot day, fire is set to the
fallen mass of vegetation, care beng
taken to surround it with a clear space,
to prevent the flames from passing to the
surrounding woods. The ground, after
burning, is her comparatively cle=n, n
the loose trunks are Strengthened ~
awaiting some copious showers to cool
the earth. The holes are then dug n
the ground staked off. After being
moistened, the coffee plants of one or
two years. growth are taken from the
nurseries and planted in the holes about
a foot deep. The plants are always
planted in rows equally distant one from
another-a distance varying from eight
to twelve feet according to the soil, so
that standing at any given spot a lane
twelve feet, or less, is formed, running
at right angles in every direction. AT
times when there are many RIDGES the
plants follow the c~urvatures. and ending
in short rows a large space is left open
and the line commenced in such a way
that from the foot to the summit they
run in a straight line invariably equl-
distant. At certain distances between a
certain number of trees a o is lett
wide enough for a wagon to pass by
simply emitting a row of plants. Such
is the mathematical manner IN which
they are planted.
The shrub is set out with all the roots,
which have a main stem corresponding
to the axis of the trunk, and the
numerous rootlets are placed in iuxtapo-
sition with the bottom of the hole.
Should no rains fall following the plant
ing, the shrubs are protected as far as
possible by pieces OF bark and wood,
leaving full ventilation. Though APP
parently very roughly treated when re-
moved from the nursery, such is not the
case, and failure to grow does not AMOUNT
to live per cent.
To obtain a nursery, a large quantity
of dry coffee in the hull is sowed in
close drills in a shady, rich and airy
spot, and in twelve to twenty-four
months the plants are ready for removal
large numbers being always kept on
hand.
Between the rows of coffee plants, for
two or three years, corn, mandioca and
pumpkins are planted. 1t is necessary
during the first year with a hoe or bill
hook, with a long, straight handle, to
clean the shrubs from vegetation. Dur
ing the second and third years the same
---oorr 80 tlanftnn DArn aud Claoninn
are continued, the loose wood beng
collected and placed around the roots.
In the fourth year the cleaning con
tinues and much more care is taken ID
keep the surface FREQ of weeds and grass,
which grows up in quick succession, re-
curing three 10 four ~cleanings a year.
At the eud of the third year the shrub
commences to bear fruit, aud on good,
strong soil a crop is made at the end of
the fourth. This process of cultivation
goes on from year to year until the shrubs
become small trees, from ten TO fifteen
feet high. The main trunk sends of
horizontal branches from six to eight
inches apart, placed in alternate pairs,
at right angles, so that the first
horizontal is on its side twelve to six
teen inches from its fellow below and
above. These branches divide from their
main stem at right angles four inches
apart, aud sometimes subdivide several
times. From the trunk left exposed
when planted spring many shoots, thus
giving the contour of a zone. The
flowers bloom from the axila of every
leaf, supported by afrail stem about one
eighth OF an inch in length, which is not
too densely shaded by others, aud the
berry is formed on the same ~peduncle,
only longer.
The longevity of the tree depends
upon the care taken, generally lasting
upward of twenty-five years, and even
attaining forty. 1t yields every year,
but the crops of alternate years are the
largest. When in flower the plantation
of shining, dark-green leaves seems to
be covered with snow. The aroma is of
delightful fragrance. The flowers fall
off after twenty-four hours, and there is
nothing seen of the berry at a distance
from the trees until it is almost matured,
which is five to six months, when it as
sumes a bright cherry color, and by its
weight bends the branches almost TO the
ground.
In front of the residence of the 'fazen-
deiro' Tor planter) is a large surface of
ground, square in shape, smoothed
down and neatly swept and cleaned.
over which the coffee berry is spread
out to dry when brought from the
field.
The mode of collecting is simply to
rake down the branches by rapidly run
ming the stems through the hands loosely
closed-whlch strips them of fruit into
a round sieve. This then is cleaned of
leaves and twigs by tossing it into the
air. The berries which fall on the
ground are swept up and cleaned by the
same process. The contents are then
thrown into a basket which holds about
two bushels. This. when full, is car
ried to the road and piled with others
into heaps. each bearer receiving a check
of metal for each has ket, all of which at
roll-call in the evening are turned over
Il the foreman, who keeps account
daily.
The process of driving is a very tedious