Guadaloupe.—A century ago, this French colony exported 7/- million lb. of coffee ; in 1874, the exports were 625,200 lb. It nearly all goes to France as of Martinique growth. In 1873, there were 3588 hectares under coffee, yielding about 1000 lb. a hectare (= nearly 2/ acres).
Ilayti.—Hayti has fallen from a production of 80 million lb. in 1789, to 54f million in 1874, chiefly owing to disastrous hurricanes. The exports in 1878 were, to Italy, 83,000 lb. ; Spain, 17,000; West Indies, 11,000 ; France, 3000 ; United States, 2000 ; Great Britain, 1400.
Jamaica.—This hilly island used to produce large crops of fine quality. The average annual shipment in 1805-7 was 28i million lb.; this fell to 4 million in 1861 ; but increased to over 10 million duty of 68. a tierce is levied. Renewed efforts are being made to extend the cultivation, and what appear to be rather extravagant hopes are being based upon the introduction of Liberian coffee. Some plants of this vaxiety, introduced in 1874, were placed in cinchona propagating houses, and then distributed to planters at all altitudes ; those put out at the lower elevations attained the greatest success. In Jamaica, common coffee is cultivated at all heights, from the sea-level up to 5000 ft. The superior qualities, however, are only produced at heights ranging above 2000 ft., beneath which altitude the quality decreases in value as it approaches the level of the se,a. As the peasantry, who are now the largest producers, almost exclusively cultivate their coffee below 2000 ft., the acquisition of a species adapted to the climate of the lowlands is a matter of great importance. A gradual diminution in the area of plantation coffee is taking place. The soil of the Port Royal Mountains, in which the best coffee is grown, is becoming more impoverished from year to year, and all the land adjacent to these plantations has been in a great me,asure exhausted by coffee cultivation, so that there is very little available land in their immediate proximity. These fields are confined to the southern slopes of the Blue Mountain range. The northern slopes, except near the sea, are covered with dense primeval forest, no attempts at cultivation having been made here, though these lands are the most valuable in Jamaica for coffee cultivstion. It is im portant, however, to bear in mind that the conditions of humidity differ on the northern and on the southern slopes. On the latter side, the destruction of the forest bas materially lessened the moisture, thus rendering the climate comparatively dry. The area of unoccupied land favourable for coffee, including forest on the eastern prolongation of the southern slopes, may be roughly estimated at 60,000-80,000 acres, nearly all of which belongs to government. The total area in the island now under coffee cultivation, much at unsuitable elevations, is 22,000 acres.
Martinique.—Hero also coffee culture is declining, in spite of new lands being taken up. The acreage probably amounts to about 1400, the yield being reckoned at 500-1000 lb. a hectare (2i acres) ; the total production in 1873 was 210,000 kilo. ; it is mostly consumed in the island, France taking the little that is exported.
Porto Rico.—Coffee cultivation might be extended here on now unproductive land. Considerable quantities are grown in the province of Ponce, and Minor quantities in Mayaguez, Arecibo, and Aguadilla. The quality is excellent, and though not well known in England, it is valued in Latin Europe. Shade is provided according to the needs dead' plant. The beans are garbled for market,
and those intended for the Mediterranean ere polished in a mill, with the addition of a little colouring matter when necessary. The exports iu quintals (of 101i lb.) were, in 1874, 199,488 ; 1875, 256,485; 1876, 306,526; 1877, 137,140; 1878, 151,201. The destinations of the export of 1878, were : Spain, 16,771 ; Itsly, 15,406; France, 5908 ; Great Britain and provinces, 5472 ; Germany, 4279 ; United States, 34 ; other countries (principally Cuba), 103,334.
Trinidad.—The coffee export reaches about 25,000 lb. yearly. There is said to be scarcely any part of the island where coffee culture may not be profitably undertaken ; but the dis tricts of Maracas, Aripo, and North Oroponche are regarded as possessing conditions not to be surpassed. The export duty is 110. a cwt. The island possesses a fine Botanic Garden, in which are grown some ten varieties, or sub-varieties, of coffee. Some notes concerning their peculiarities may be of interest :—(1) Liberian coffee seems to be regarded as a means of re viving coffee culture in the Western Tropics. The plants thrive well in the ordinary red gravelly loam of the northern part of the island. From the nature of its growth, it must be planted widely, and topping is recommended at 7 ft. Prestoe advises an interval of 16 ft. between the trees, the space to be temporarily occupied by common creole coffee, which would benefit by the shade, and afford a quicker return ; the latter are to be removed as soon as the Liberian plants require room, say et the 6th-7th year. (2) A narrow-leaved coffee received from Java seems well adapted for poor, rocky soils. R resists drought, is very prolific, and has a large bean; but it is slow of develop ment. Its peculiar foliage enables it to withstand heat and drought, and renders it unliable to attack from insects and fungi. It should be planted at 6 ft. ; its sturdy but stunted growth is said to obviate the necessity for topping and pruning. (3) Souffriere coffee ha,s been so named from its occurrence on the Souffriere Hills of Dominica, where the plants remained uniformly fruitful and healthy, while surrounded by creole and Mocha trees all affected by blight and drought. The texture of the foliage makes it proof against insects ; the natural ha-bit of growth is trichotomous ; and the been is large. It seems suited for steep and barren hill-sides, end though lass hardy than (2), it develops more quickly. (4) The Mocha variety is sub-divided into major and minor ; the former attains a height of 7 ft.; the latter, formerly cultivated in the Maraval, St. Ann's, and Laventille valleys, does not exceed 4-5 ft., yields a smaller bean, and is less prolific. The northern hills and valleys of Trinidad might grow both sub-varieties, major in the low ground, and minor on the hills. Prestoe says tharas a rule they would become most prolific under full exposure (pre sumably to the sun), after being established by the shade afforded by such crops as pigeon-peas, &c. Even such a scorching as to cause a partial shedding of the leaves he considers beneficial. (5) Bengal coffee differs from the others, in a very compact growth, small and long bean, and a preference for dense shade. Its peculiarly-shaped bean places it among second-class coffees as regards market price ; but it is recommended for planting with cocoa, when this system of double cropping is practised.