As a rule, the coffee lands are naturally well drained, but occasional small and comparatively level areas occur, which need artificial drainage. In constructing drains, care should be exercised so to place them as to cause the minimum amount of erosion.
Other things equal, virgin forest land will give best results, because of its greater fertility. Its fertility and freeness from noxious weeds, thus reducing the subsequent cost of weeding the plan tation, will often more than counterbalance the extra cost of clearing the land and the disadvan tages of poor location, with reference to transpor tation, frequently attendant on the taking up of new land.
Preparing the land.— If time permits, the land should be cleared as thoroughly as possible, and all the waste material burned. Some persons rec ommend not burning over the land, in order to save ferns which are invariably found in forest lands. It is presumed that the ferns keep the ground moist, prevent weeds from growing, protect the young coffee trees from insects and do not interfere with the growth of the coffee. Frequently the trees that are cut are allowed to rot on the land, the branches being trimmed so as not to interfere with the planting ; or the underbrush may be cleared away and the trees girdled. The latter practice, however, is not to be commended, as it later is dangerous to the workers and to the coffee trees. Still another practice is to clear the underbrush and allow the trees to stand, planting the coffee directly under the forest trees, the trees being removed only after the artificial shade has grown. Trees should be left standing on ridges and on the side from which the prevailing wind blows, to serve as windbreaks. If the winds are strong, it may be necessary to plant some quick-growing tree as a windbreak where the forest trees will not serve.
If roads and drainage-ditches are necessary, they should be constructed as soon as the land is cleared.
Seedling plants.— Volunteer seedlings, which occur in large numbers in all coffee groves, are usually procured. They are generally drawn from the ground by main force, though occasionally a spade or other instrument is employed. They vary from one to three years old, according t o the preference of the planter. Frequently, however, seedlings are raised in seed beds, which is the more ra tional practice, as the volun teer seedlings cannot be relied on fully. For this, the best-de
veloped berries should be chosen and carefully pulped by hand. The seed-beds are best located near the permanent planting, and should be of such a size as to facilitate planting, weeding and watering. Ordinarily it is safe to raise 25 per cent more seedlings than will be needed for the first planting. The seed-beds must be shaded and carefully protected from heavy downpours of rain. The hot sun should not strike the plants. (Fig.343.) The soil for the bed must be fined and leveled, and free from extraneous matter. It should be moistened thoroughly the evening previous to planting the seeds. The seeds are pressed lightly into the soil, about two inches apart each way. The bed is covered with a layer of wood-ashes and again moistened. As soon as the first round leaves are formed the plants may be transplanted into the nursery-beds. This will generally occur in about ten or twelve weeks after the seeds have been planted.
The nursery-beds are similar to the seed-beds. The young plants are set in rows about six inches apart each way. Only those are reset that have straight, well-developed taproots. The taproots are cut back to a length of about four inches. Much care is required in the planting to see that the plants are set straight, and that they are buried just to the same height on the stock that they were in the seed-bed. The nursery-bed is watered after planting, and from time to time if the weather is dry. As the plants develop the shade is gen erally removed until they are exposed to full sun light. It should be planned to expose them to the full light and air when they have developed four pairs of leaves. After being exposed for some time they are ready to be planted in the field. It is pre ferable that five pairs of true leaves be developed before transplanting. (Fig. 349.) The planting distances should be marked carefully before any of the trees are set. The best distance between the rows is still un settled. Seven to nine feet is common practice. Where coffee can be grown on somewhat Hat land, as in Brazil, and machines used between the rows, a greater distance is desirable. The coffee lands in Porto Rico are generally very steep and irregular.