The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-10-06

hardest OF all the cOnee trees dudple'
70 the climates of Mexico, and vii
stand a very high temperature.
CONDITIONS OF SOIL AND Gil
NATE.
As the coffee tree has a long taproot
it will thrive better on land where the
soil is deep. The best soil in Mexico
is a well-drained, loamy one, either oi
virgin mountainous composition, OF
Of a volcanic nature, is very suitable
and less manuring is then for the
plants, as the rocks are continually
adding to the soil by the decomposing
action of the air, and other natural
forces.
The climate most adaptable in Mex
leo is that found in the mountainous
regions, with range of temperature
from So deg. to Sc deg. F. The best
coffee is grown at elevations varying
from 2,200 to $500 feet above the sea,
in sections south of Veracruz; but in
locations below latitude q deg. north,
the north limit of the coffee zone on the
Gulf side, the climate being cooler,
the bush requires lower elevations,
ranging from GOO to 5000 feet.
The plant is, however, cultivated by
some planters at much lower levels,
and even within few miles from the
seashore. For instance, in Misantla,
Acayucan, Nacayuca, and San Juan
Bantista, Tabasco. An extremely wet
climate is not favorable to the coffee
plant, and it will not thrive in very
exposed situations.
If proper aspect, as regards sun and
winds, can not be obtained, the ex-
posure can nearly always be modified
by shelter belts of trees.
On the Pacific side, the prevailing
south winds must be avoided at low
elevations, and on this side the tree
can be planted at much higher eleva-
tions, as the range which branches off
at Jalisco and joins the Toluca Noun
tain and the Popocatapetl Peak breaks
off the cold north winds and shelters
the regions below it. As to direct sun
exposure, when it is desirable to take
advantage of the heat at high eleva-
tions, it is always convenient to ac-
quire, as far as possible, a southern
exposure, but where the elevation is
low and the temperature is high, such
an exposure would be injurious to the
plant, in which case it is better to
procure an eastern exposure General
ly, the action of the rains modifes the
temperature in the tropics, and at ele-
vations between 1000 and .4,500 feet
above sea level, clouds gather along
the mountains almost every day be-
fore the rays of the noon sun bear
their strong influence in those locali-
ties. On the Gulf side, the trees that
have an eastern sun exposure, so that
the sun strikes them during the morn
ing, thrive better and yield more.
PROPAGATING THE PLANTS.
Coffee plants in Mexico are mostly
propagated by seed, and the seedlings
are either raised in seed beds, or taken |
up from under cultivated trees. After
or ct the time of commencing the !
sheltered level piece of land |
in a location within easy reach of a
good supply of water is chosen for a
which should have a soil of |
the same quality and not less fertile !
than that of the future plantation. The |
plot should be thoroughly cleared and I
the seed bed prepared by stirring and /
inverting the soil with hoes or mat
tocks, dug to depth of from 10 to IA
inches and slightly raised TO promote
drainage. The ground is divided into
sections feet in width and 40 feet
in length, leaving walks of 4 feet in
width and at a slightly lower level
than the surface of the beds. which
ought to be surrounded by drains.
The number OF plants in the nursery
beds ought to be three times that re-
CURED in the plantation, so that the
planter will always have good trees to
select for transplanting, with a re-
serve of trees for replacing those
which fail.
The seeds adapted to termination
must be perfectly formed and have
reached a proper degree of maturity,
A-~ 4e'eeNA Hue'iity DSllS tSCOSllZ6u Dy
rs having reached full development
and by falling from the mother plant.
The best-formed coffee is that which is
,alled planchuela, but the "caracolilIo'
pea berry, in it should be avoided.
After taking the pulp off, the berry.
slightly dampened, is exposed to the
'un for a day, and then the seeds are
placed with their fiat sides downward,
It depth of about an inch below the
urface The sower makes narrow
urrows in the earth with small sticks
lcross the ridges at a distance of 8
inches, the one from the other; an ,
'ther laborer follows, placing the coffee
,eans in the burrows, 6 inches apart.
Until the ridge is completed. Imme- +
lately afterward, the seed beds are {
with a sprinkler, and this is I
lone every other day for forty DAYS. {
It the end of which the seeding be-
'in to appear. This operation gen 5
rally takes place in the months of s
day and June, in places where the t
aims are early as in Oaxaca, Michoa- s
an, Puebla, Morelos, and Guerrero. I
hat the nursery may receive the bene- a
it of these rains; but in Veracruz. {
'hiapas, and other states. ii is mostly c