The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-08-28
Methods of CuItivating the Ber-
ries in Southern Chimes.
HOW SHOOTS ARE TRANSPLANTED
seeds are Treated Before Planting.
Shade an Essential - Old Trees
Utilized Banana Trees will Answer.

A
in Mexico, where the industry has -four
ished since the beginning Of the cen
fury, appears in the last issue of The
Sugar Cane" CManchester). 1t contains
some notes on the subject of growing
coffee under shade, which will interest
coffee planters. The report says:
On most plantations in Mexico it is
usual to preserve the large trees for
shade, but in districts where the best
climatic conditions exist this is I'M
necessary. Much shade is in itself det-
rimental to the full grown coffee plant,
and localities where it is required ow-
ing to great sun heat and lack of proper
moisture should be avoided. Although
there can be little doubt that where the
climate is most suited to the growth of
the coffee plant shade is unnecessary |
and even injurious, the practice of hav-
ing most of the large trees of the nat
ural forest as shade for the coffee trees
be passed by without further notice
Many persons possessing considerable |
experience in coffee planting in Mexico
will even be found to maintain that
shade is absolutely essential, and it is
quite possible that in the districts with
which they are best acquainted such
may be the case. On the other hand, in |
countries where coffee has been extern
sively cultivated for longer time than
in Mexico, the plant certainly succeeds
better without shade. Further expert
ence is perhaps required before de-
finite conclusion can be arrived at as
regards this country, but it will scarcely
be denied by the most enthusiastic sup
porter of the Mexican system that the
tendency has been to make the shade
too thick. The truth seems to be that
coffee can be cultivated profitably in
districts which are not naturally suited
for il, and that in some of these shade
is really necessary to protect the plant
from the excessive heat of the sun
Owners of land in comparatively hot
and dry districts may find it necessary
to shade their plants with forest trees,
or in extreme cases even with bananas,
but such localities should be avoided
by persons who have free hand in the
selection of a site for their plantation.
Regarding the planting of coffee, the
report says:
When the clearing of the land is COM
menced a suitable spot is selected for
sowing the coffee bean, in order to es-
tablish a nursery, to be made use of in
the following year. Trees required for
the first planting are generally purchas-
ed from existing coffee plantations. The
spot selected for the purpose should be
thoroughly cleared of trees, should be
easily irrigated and of average fertility.
In Mexico it is usual to leave some of
the trees as shade, but in other places
it has been found that the drip is in
furious to the young plants, and that
il is far better to arrange a shade of
cut brushwood. Long ridges are formed
with a width of from 4 feet to 6 feet,
with walks between, in order that the
workmen may later on reach the plants
when il is necessary to clean them. In
forming the ridges the earth should be
well broken with hoes to depth of at
least six inches, the stones picked out
ground is then ready for the coffee
bean. The beans are dispulped and al
lowed to foment, so as to admit of the
saccharine matter being washed off.
When this is done the beans that float
on the top of the water are taken away
as being unsuitable, and those which
sink to the bottom are placed to dry
for one day in the sun, and for two ad-
diUional days in the shade. They are
then ready TO be sown. The sewers
make small burrows in the earth with a
pointed staff. across the ridges, at dis
lance of inches apart and 21a inches
deep. Another laborer follows, placing
the coffee beans in the burrows, inches
apart, until the ridge is finished. The
beans are then lightly covered with
well sifted earth, without being pressed
down. and are afterward watered with
a sprinkler. Subsequently the ground is
watered every two or three days, and il
from forty to sixty days the plant be
gins TO grow. Care must afterward bt
taken to keep the ridges free from
weeds. and in about eight months the
plant is ready for transplanting.
Slightly different methods are some
times adopted and sometimes the youns
plants found growing underneath the
coffee trees are planted direct in thu
plantations, but this system is no longe
considered a good one and has beer
generally abandoned. The time for sow
ing trees varies in different States, an,
in some of them sowing is carried OF
at all times of the year. 1t is desirable
however, to time the sowing of the see
in the nurseries in such way that tn
plants may be from inches to inche
high in the planting season. An acr
of ground holds about $50 trees, plante
feet apart, with Z feet between tn
rows This opening is very generall
adopted, though some planters in thi
country prefer to plant at greater dis
tanees. Special care should be take
in planting the trees that the tap roc
is not twisted or bent. Nipping off tn
tender portions, if done in the RICH
way. does not materially affect tn
growth of the tree, and obviates tn