New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-04
THE COFFEE BELTS.

The necctiation of Reciprocity arrangements
with three important States OF Cehtrdi ANheii'"
secures an increased supply OF the hhest q,''i'!
Of coffee. There is no coffee in the tropical oeit
of this continent superior in iavor 70 thao "a
Costa Rca. Salvador and Guatemala Inc aro-
matte bean is the product of the most dellca'e
processes of vegetable assimilation. The shruo
rcuuircs a generous soil, shelter from intense
bcat protection from cold winds, moderate Gllns
before blossoming and COOL dry air during inc
fruiting period. These conditions are supp,ieu
in The. mountain slopes OF Central America. 1 NJ
soil rs rich tho climate dry and equabie' raiiS
arc well-tmed and not too copous and banana
jungles provide the requisite shade. Cehtiai
American coffee is highly esteemed in Europe
and commands higher prices there than The DesS
Qualities If brazilian coffee. The Pacific States
have drawn their main supply from that quarter
inst as New-Orcans has been dependent upon
similar brands of Mexican Coffee but Compare
,ivcly little has reached the Newly ork Market
from that source. Brazil and Venezuela nave
flIed the Eastern stoIehouscs. With larger
Introduction of Central American produce there
will be a marked improvement in the qiaiity
If coffoe consumed in the Atlantic states.
for designating higher grades OF coffee but the
terms have no geographical significance. ou'
of total importation Of O,OOO,OOO pouhGS
445 Geo. 600 pounds came from the cOHce-DeiO
Of the American Continent. Inc rohaIiiue-,
$4,000. 900 pounds was shipped from ASIA ana
Africa. and less than half OF 1t from Java. ln'
imports from Arabia are very small. Nhat IS
ordinarily sold as Java and Mocha Is the best
grade of American been from Brazil, Nene-
mol, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Largo as are
tho importaions from Brazil, more than three
fifth, of the whole amount consumed IN the
United States. The quality is d1'cnorlung I'M"
decline in quality is 10 be attributed to INFERIOR
proces.e, Of cultivation and to tho magnitude
Of the industry Much of the labor involved
bv clubbing and keeping down weeds has been
neglected since tho emancipation Of slavery, and
the shrub is deprived of the full virtue OF tho
soil When the product is hul,cd or puped in
large o;.antitic, by mechanical processes much
Of il il either green or oycrlpe WIN Tree
labor and improved machinery tho exports OF
Hziian coffee have been largely increased, but
the product is of lower grade than formerly
In Central AM .icl Mexico and Ncncznnla the
conditions q labor and clima'c favor tho pro
duc'ion ~ coffee OF a superior qraIr.
The development Of this great tropical indus
try WAS one Of the earliest results OF the dl'-
,oycrv OF the New World. When Columbus
sailed the tcas ConStlntin0pc WAS beginning To
drjn;, tho spicy coffee OF Arabia, and by the
end Of century Europe had acquired TASTE
for il. The West Indies became the great coffee
sforchouse during the eighteenth century but
owing largely 70 emancipation and TO the nm
itol a,c. cf the highland Islands. Brazil acquired
an asccndancy in coffee production about 1879.
Slave labor was for generation i;s most marked
advantage but after thu emancipation decree
competing countries like NencAeln and 'enua
America began - increase enormously then
cefTo, product The west coast OF Mexico ana
Central America is one Of tho most highly IN
yor,d Of the tropical coiTcc-beltS. Railways and
improved shipping facilities 4 one are lacking in
order to enable i: to compete successfully with
Brazil.