The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-08-27
Methods of Cutivating the Ber-
ries in Southern Chimes.
HOW SHOOTS ARE TRANSPLANTED
Profits From the Industry the
seeds are Treated Before Planting.
shade an Essential = old Trees
Utilized Banana Trees VIII Answer.

in Mexico, where the industry has -four
ished since the beginning of the cen
fury, appears in the last issue OF The
Sugar Cane" (Manchester). II 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
rimentaI 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
is so general in Mexico that it cannot
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 III 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 a longer time than
H.
better without shade. Further expert
ence is perhaps required before a de-
finite conclusion can be arrived at as
regards this country, but it will scarcely
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 it, 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
a suitable spot is selected for /
sowing the coffee bean, in order to es-
tablish nursery, to be made use of in
the following year. Trees required for
the first planting are generally purchas- i
ed from existing coffee plantations. The
spot selected for the purpose should be
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
it is far better to arrange a shade of
cut brushwood. Long ridges are formed
with a width of from feet to feet.
with walks between, in order that the
wOrkmen may later on reach the plants
when it is necessary to clean them. In
forming the ridges the earth should be
well broken with hoes to a depth OF at
least six inches, the stones picked out
and the surface smoothed down. The
ground is then ready for the coffee
bean. The beans are dtspulped and al
lowed to foment, so as to admit of the
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-
1itional days in the shade. They are
hen ready to be sown. The sewers
make small burrows in the earth with a
pointed staff. across the ridges, at a dis
.ance of inches apart and 21a inches
leep. Another laborer follows, placing
he coffee beans in the burrows, / inches
apart, until the ridge is finished. The
BEANS are then lightly covered with
veil sifted earth, without being pressed
Town, and are afterward watered with '
sprinkler. subsequently the ground is
every two or three days, and in
rom forty to sixty days the plant be- I
gins TO grow. Care must afterward be I
aiken to keep the ridges free from
weeds, and in about eight months the l
liant is ready for transplanting ;
Slightly different methods are some d
lines adopted and sometimes the young I
'lants found growing underneath the : :
Office trees are planted direct in the :
Limitations, but this system is no longer :