Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-04-17

elevation Of 1,50O meters above the
level of the sea- and it is observed that
above the middle height of this ymoun-
tain coffee groves do not exist. Whetl-
er owing to the climate or to the soil,
which may be unsuitable, where grow!
only some shrubs in thickets and some
worthless herbs, 1t is true that after 500
meters have been passed the coffee is
not seen, and all attempts to grow it
at that altitude have been without re-
suits.
Coffee growers modify the climate
by employing slade-that is, they plant
their coffee groves beneath the shade
of n grove of thick trees, as for exam
pie, the hucares, guaba, jobo, guiana,
mango, etc., and under the banana
trees when the coffee groves are young.
1.-The coffee grows on hills of low
elevation, associated with many other
trees, which afford shade, modify the
temperature, and protect the coffee
from hurricanes and torrential rains.
The composition of these coffee soils is
variable, but in all of them sand pre-
dominates, and OH the surface there is
an abundant covering, the product of
the decayed vegetation of the forest.
| The land which produces the renowned
coffee of Porto Rico, as to its physical
appearance, seems to be very fine
clay, and when it rains becomes as
slippery as soap, and transit at such
| times is dangerous. 1t has a red color
when moist, and when squeezed
| through the fingers resembles in its
| color and smoothness the oxide of iron
paint, but when dry it becomes very
hard.
| "There are small plantations where
the cultivation is both intelligent and
intense, which produce thirty quin,
tails 5000 pounds and more per
| hectare 1.-TWO and one-half acres. but
this is exceptional, for: there are lands
duce one quintal 600 pounds. AS an
average crop. taken from the different
classes of land, and taking into account
also the variations that occur from yeal
to year, Il production of from ten to
fourteen quinals per hectare may be
counted on as the result of fairly intel.
ligent cultivation"
| The coffee tree is completely deyel-
oped and producing after seven years
If the conditions under which the
growth has been perfected have been
favorable. otherwise 1t will need ten
years, and the product will never com
pete with that of Il good, sound tree.
The cost of one cuerda about one acre.
of good coffee UP to tile date of pro,
duction will average $780, United
States currency.
When the tree is four years old it will
not produce sufficient to cover ex.
penses, and II The soil is not of the best
quality the conditions will be the same
after five or six. years. In such dis.
tricts of this department (AIayaguoz)
as Las Marias and Marlcoa, the pro
duce of one cuerda acre will range
age will give for every cuerda 4OC
pounds. The Typographical conditions
of the coffee growing districts are such
and the hills so steep. that the only
agricultural implement that can be
used With effect is the common
machete, or chopping knife. tits used
for cleaning the ground and for max
ing the holes.
1 The total cost of aShpndredweight Of
| coffee ready for market. including ex
| penses for cultivation, is from $40 Il
! sic, Porto Kican money. equal to 80 Il