Coffee interests in Ceylon were injured by the over-eagerness of the early planters to obtain coffee property, leading them to pay unretnunerativo prices. The coffee crop of 1870-71 was generally a bumper. The season of 1871-72 was one of short crops, 'caused by irregular blossoming showers, and by the leaf disease, which then made its first appearance. From 1871 to 1878, on tho average, 707,590 cwt. of coffee were exported from Ceylon, and the average production per acre WAS 3.79 cwt. In 1879 the export was 774,774 cwt., and the out-turn per acre cultivated was 3-60. In the three years 1878 to 1880, the average export wa.s 658,575 cwt., and the average yield per acre was 3-01 ewt. Since these unremunerative results followed, the planters have been directing their attention to cacao, cinchona, and tea.
In Arabia Felix the culture is principally carried.on in the king,4om of Yemen, towards the aintons of Aden and Mocha. Although these countries are very hot in the plains, they possess mountains where the air is znild, and the coffee is generally grown half-way up on their slopes. When cultivated on the lower grounds, it. is always surrounded by large trees, which shelter it from the torrid sun, and prevent its fruit from withering before its maturity. The harvest is gathered at three periods; the most considerable occurs in May, when the reapers begin by spread ing cloths under the trees, then shaking the branches strongly, so as to make the fruit drop, which they collect and expose upon mats to dry. They then pass over the dried berries a heavy roller, to break the envelopes, which are after wards winnowed away with a' fan. The interior bean is again dried before being laid up in Store. The principal coffee districts are Henjersia, Tarzia, Oudein, Aneizah, Bazil, and Weesaf. • The nearest coffee plantations are three And a half days' journey (about 80 miles) from Aden. Coffee is brought into the Sana market in December and January from the surrounding districts. The varieties nee Sherzee best, Ouceahne, Muttanee, Sharrazee, Ilubbal from Aniss, Sherissee from Aniss. The nearest place to Sana where the coffee' tree grows is at Artish, half a day distant, ' The coffee plant in Arabia is mostly grown near the sides of mountains, valleys, and other sheltered situations, the soil on which has been washed down from the surrounding heights, and carefully protected by means of stone walls, so as to present to the traveller the appearance. of terraces. The plant requires a moist soil, though Much rain does not appear necessary. It ia always found iu greater luxuriance at places where there is no spring; yet azi abundant supply of water to the root of the plant seems necessary for the full growth and perfection of its bean. Mr. Palgrave• says the
best coffee is that of Yemen, exported from Moths:, but Arabia, Syria, and Yemen consume two-thirds of it, and tho other third finds its way to Europe, to the west of Constantinople, and is used by Turks and Armenians. The rounded, half-trans parent, greenish-brown berries are deemed the best. It is also exported by the lied Sea into the Hejaz and Kasim in Shimer. It was stated by Niebuhr to have been brought by the .Ambs from Abyssinia to Yemen, from a country similar to their own plains and mountains ; that people had for ages cultivated it in the hilly mnge (Jabal) in a healthy temperate climate, watered by frequent rains, and abounding in wells and water tanks.
In Ceylon, the coffee plant will grow and repro duce itself on a level with the sea ; and at 2000 feet above it, the trees, whilst young, will have the most luxuriant appearance, come soonest into bearing, and yield the greatest measurement quantity per acre, Init. the bean is light, awl of an inferior quality. The best Ceylon properties aro situated on the mountains at from 3000 to 4r,o0 feet abOve tho sea, where min is frequent, about 100 inches annually, and the temperature mode rate, the maximum 80° and minimum 15°. The aromatic properties (and consequently fiue flavour) of the coffee plant are best developed in Ceylon between 3000 and 5000 feet above the ocean. The higher it is cultivated, with care, below frost, the better has been the quality of the produce, although the yield is less. The appearance, of high mountain beans is long, blue, the longitudinal seazn curved, with its sides elose and compact ; its specific gravity is greater, and its aromatic principle more abundant and finer, than that prodnced on low lands, which is attributed to its being grown slowly in a cold_ climate. The best plantations are situated in the Kandyan province, where the thermometer ranges at noon about 76°, and in the morning not higher than 60°. The coffee berry in those elevated regions has therefore to be conveyed to Colombo, where a constant high temperature enables the merchant to complete tho dryino. process, which the planter had but commenced'. Coffee plaating failed over a eonsidemble portion of .the southern . province of the island. Tho temperature was found t,o be too equable, not deseendieg sufficiently low at any time to invigo rate the plant, which, though growing luxuriantly at first, soon became weak and delicate. Tho chief crop ripens in October and November and a small second gathering is looked for in Islay. The following have been the average quantities and values of quinquennial exports from Ceylon :— YearS.' Cwt.' Value. Years. Cwt. Value.