Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-03

~ A0BB9t-1o bross
C~Gss Ps..sassss-ssoseAing Ahsas -
Pssp.saxsss Bssss sAiV0ssG
Il prsu.n,s thas vssy fsv q hos vho -
fond of . cup At good co4ss tor ofsakhA9 .
this country have anything hks elsar ID
Of Tie agricultural procsno WHICH rsndR
such indnlgsucs poOhaa.s remarked GsorSs
Andsr,pn, Of Nynrs. India. an elderly gen
sisman with dlvesy mutton chop whhksfA
kssa grAy eyss, and The 1Awny. allow com
plexiou which seems 70 b inaeparsb's from
the resident Of the land Of tosTid suns and
diasassd iivers, - BE- smoked an after dim.
cnsroot in tho lobby Of the Rn1en bouaA Il
know all about is from . long series Of ysass
Of actual experiences In coffee raisang have
been resident Of Aysore. India. for IN IN
broken period Of twenty -ssveo yearA l
went out 70 that country - very young
man when the Possibilities Of civilization
we're all before il have never bad reason
to regret doing 50 II you arc familiar with
The geography OF India, you are aware thas
NysOre Is hlened with delightful climate,
souething which cannot truthfully b. sid OF
many other portions Of that great and rapid
Iy progressing country. experienced bot
W weather in Salt Lake City, dnce coming
to this country, than ! have ever known IN
Mysore during the entire period Of my rea-
de0ce"
IN THE coSyKE FIELD
Are you . coffee planterf' was inquired
That has been my business for many
years, replied Mr.. Anderson, igniting sons
sort Of long. lanky looking roll OF tobacco,
which bore unmistakable evidence Of heatheo
birth. II will endsavor briefly TO give you
some sort of an idea Of Whist it means to b .
coffee planter in India In the first place,
you must understand that the refreshing
rains which water the vegetation Of this
country every few days are unknown in
India for months together Drought Is the
great enemy with which all agriculturists
are forced. to contend. This atmospheric
condition Is the greatest obstacle with which
we have to battle, and it has made India the
most prolific country in the world in the
matter Of inventing and perfecting all sorts
of irrigating processes In that one particu-
lar, at least, we easily lead all other civilized
countries today.
Coffee plants, or trees, as they may very
properly be termed, are planted i've feet
apart, In each direction. Everything has
to be done by hand. There Is no such thing
as labor saving machinery known in connec-
ton with the business. Its use would be i'm
possible. The tops Of the coffee shrubs are
cut out to force them to shoot out horizon
tally, instead Of into the air. But the coffee
bushes on a plantation are not the only i'd
iunct Of the business which requires cult
Walton
.'On account Of the drought and the torrid
suns. every inch Of the plantation must be
fully protected by shade trees Where this
IL not done, the fruit shrivels up and becomes
worthless without ripening. Experience has
taught us in India that the only really desir-
able trees for shade purposes are the silver
leafel variety. The rays Of the sun seem to
penetrate all others and the labor Of cult
waiting them is wasted. We generally shade
our coffee plantations with part or all of the
the eighteen or twenty varieties Of fig trees
Indigenous 70 the country. Where these
trees are not properly located they must be
planted and cultivated.
mo branches are allowed within twenty
five or thirty feet Of the ground and annual
trimming and pruning Of both the coffee
trees and the big trees which shade them are
absolutely necessary. You can doubtless
form some idea Of the immense amount of
labor which this process entails
There is no more beautiful sight. however,
than a properly cared for coffee plantation
after it has reached maturity. The green
bushes in regular rows yellow and the equally
green trees towering above them with pro
tecting arms form very pretty picture. In
May the coffee bushes are Ill full bloom, the
white blossoms, something after the migno-
nette order, causing the perspective TO re-
sembe waving, palpitating field Of virgin
snow The picking of the berries begins in
November and continues until February. As
have said. all labor is done by hand. and
regularly employ about CO., coolies In man.
aging my plantation The picking process ID
naturally tedious one, but labor is cheap In
hidia. II such were not the case coffee would
be luxury which few would be able to A.
ford
LIKE LARGE RED CHERRY.
What does the coffee berry resemble b.
fore it is plucked from the bushes" was
asked.
Mr. Anderson smiled.
II fear you would have some difficulty In
recognizing it at that stage of the proceed
ings," he replied I'm color 1t is a brilliant
red, looking very much like a large ripe
cherry. The berries of which the beverage
is made are. in reality. the stone Of the fruit.
lie puppy suo,SdhS0 ny WhiSA sncy a . nus
rounded il sweet in taste, but has never been
utilized for any purpose. At one time sort
Of liquor was manufactured from 1t, but il
failed to win its way into public favor.
After tasting 1t, you would not be surprised
TINT such was the case Two coffee berries
are contained In each Of these cherries, or
fruit bulbs After being pluck Ell from the
bushes, the fruit Is placed in watts and a pro-
- CAB ,lAn 2yhfn oh
rates the pulp from the berry. The latter
il then subjected to more mechanical devices,
which removes the remaining film. When
the product reaches the coast . sort Of
securing process is undergone which places
it In the condition for market-A condition
with which you are familiar"
What Is the average yield Of . coffee
bushr'
Zone pound Of the prepared berry ID q very
fair average per BUSH The yield more often
falls under that figure than goes above It."
do you export your own productf'
Entirely. have no dealings with middle
men After a quarter Of . century Of ex
perience, pronounce that - BY all odds the
most profitable plan to pursue"
ais the society Of Mysore dssirableF'
Tho best in the world" was the emphatic
reply India escapes the adverss social In
huences with which most countries are A.
dicted. Only men with an honest desire n
get on In the world come to that country. II
10 no place for unprinciplsd adventures.
There is nothing for them toprey upon Ban
galore. my nearest large city upon the coast,
& we'll advanced In everything which renders
. city greatn-Detroit Free Prea