The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-09
COFFEE CULTURE.
RAISING THE BERRY ON A
BRAZILIAN PLANTATION.

An Interesting Detailed Account
Of How 1t Is Treated from
Seed Planting to the End
Of the Gathering.
New ground of the best quality, in
places free from frost, are chosen, the
:erra rocha preferred; and if this soil is
gravclly 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 suitable occa-
sion, during a hot day, fire is set to the
fallen mass of vegetation, care being
taken to surround it with clear space,
to prevent the flames from passing to the
surrounding woods. The ground, after
burning, is then comparatively clean, and
the lsose trunks are Strengthened out
awaiting some copious showers to cool
the earth. The holes are then dug and
the ground staked off. After being
moissened, the coffee plants of one or
two years. growth are taken from the
nurseries and planted in the holes about
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 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 curvatures, and ending
in short rows large space is left open
and the line commenced in such way
that from the foot to the summit they
run in q straight line invariably equi-
distant. At certain distances between a
certain number of trees road is left
wide enough for wagon to pass by
simply omitting row of plants. Such
is the mathematical manner In which b
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 juxtapo'
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 ap.
parent tly very roughly treated when re-
moved from the nursery, such is not the
case and failure to grow does not amount
to five per cent.
To obtain a nursery, large quantity
of dry coffee in the hull is sowed lr
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 OF
hand.
Between the rows of coffee plants, fol-
two or three years, corn, mandioca and
pumpkins are planted. 1t is necessary
during the first year with hoe or bill
hook, with long, straight handle, to
clean the shrubs from vegetation. Dur
ing the second and third years the same
process of planting corn and cleaning
are continued, the loose wood being
collected and placed around the roots.
In the fourth year the cleaning con
tinues and much more care is taken t.
keep the surface free of weeds and grass,
which grows up in quick succession, re-
ouiring three to four cleanings year.
At the end of the third year the shrub
commences to bear. fruit, and on good,
strong soil crop is made at the end OF
the fourth. This process of cultivation
goes on from year to year until the shrub:
become small trees, from ten to fifteen
feet high. The main trunk sends Oh
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 anc
above. These branches divide from theil
main stem at right angles four inche.
apart, and sometimes subdivide several
times. From the trunk left exposed
when planted spring many shoots, thus
giving the contour of cone. The
flowers bloom from the axila of every
leaf, supported by afrail stem about one
eighth OF an inch in length, which is no,
too densely shaded by others, and the
berry is formed on the same peduncle,
only longer.
The longevity of the tree depend.
upon the care taken, generally lasting
upward of twenty-five years, and ever
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 te
be covered with snow. The aroma is o!
delightful fragrance. The flowers fall
off after twenty-four hours, and there is
nothing seen of the berry at distance
from the trees until it is almost matured,
which is five to six months, when it as
sumes bright cherry color, and by it,
weight bends the branches almost to the
ground.
In front of the residence of the "fazen'
deiro'' (or planter) is 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 te
rake down the branches by rapidly run
ming the stems through the hands loosely
closed-whlch strips them of fruit into
q round sieve. This then is cleaned Of
leaves and twigs by tossing it into ths
air. The berries which fall on the
ground are swept up and cleaned by the
same process. The contents are then
thrown into basket which holds about
two bushels. This. when full, is car
ried to the road and piled with Others
into heaps. each bearer receiving check
of metal for each bas sket, all of which al
roll-call in the evening are turned over
to the foreman, who keeps account
daily. ,.
The process of drying is very tedious
one and requires at least month to get
the berry perfectly dry. Then it is car.