Colornbia.—According to Consul Mallet, the department of Chiiiqui, in the interior of Colombia, offers a fine field for coffee culture. Planting has already been introduced, but only in a small way as yet. The fine lands lying along the slopes of the mouutain ranges are said to be admirably adapted for the purpose. Land costs nothing, the climate is favourable, transport and labour are efficient and cheap. In other departments of the state, coffee culture is of old standing, the produce, especially from Ocama and Ambalima, being of excellent quality ; it is, however, limited in quantity, and chiefly consumed in the country.
Costa Rica.—Coffee raised on the highlands of Costa Rica and Nicaragua is said to be unsur passed in strength, and to possess an aromatic flavour unknown to the best Eastern growths ; that grown at medium elevations is of good quality, a,nd though without the pltunp form and bluish tint of the upland produce, it compares favourably with Javan or Moluccan coffee. The cultivation suffers much from want of labour. The quantities exported in the years 1875-8 respectively were about 23i million, 10i million, 241 million, and 18 million pounds. The principal consumers appear to be Great Britain, California, and France.
Ecuadon—Inereasing attention is being given to coffee cultivation in Ecuador, and the produce is of good quality. The exports from Guayaquil during the years 1873-8 respectively were about 700,000 ; 1,000,000 ; 1,000,000 ; 800,000 ; 1,000,000 ; and 100,000 pounds. The crop of 1878 was completely spoilt by heavy rains; the yield was very inferior in quality, and so low in quantity as not to suffice for local needs.
Guatemala.--One of tbe principal coffee districts has suffered largely from Indian disturbances, exhaustion of the soil, and, perhaps, inadaptability of climate ; but for every tree abandoned in this section, 100 have been planted in new and better lands. Probably there have been 2,000,000 new trees planted, consequently the crop of 1880-81 should exhibit a marked increase over that of any previous season. The Vera Paz or Cohan district, which has its outlet on the Atlaotic, Yzahal and Belize, has been specially sought after by Germans and Americans, and is being industriously developed in its coffee-bearing qualities. The land and labour are cheaper than on the Rad& slope; but the yield per tree is very much less, being an average of 1 lb., while on the Pacific slope it reaches 3 lh., and even 5 lb. in some specially favoured localities. Nevertheless it is questionable
which section will, in the end, produce the better results. Boddam-Whetham points out the exist ence of several disadvantages in the country, viz. ;—the want of good roads, and the liability of losing most of the labourers at a moment's notice, in the event of their being required for military service ; on some plantations too, water has to be conveyed in flumes from a distance. The advantages are that the climate is pleasant, as the plantations are situated between 2000 and 4500 ft. above the sea-level, and that-hitherto there has been no disease, all the conditions for good crops being favourable. Coban coffee has a peculiar delicate flavour, and the fine plantations that are gradually arising, point to a prosperous future for this section of Vera Paz. The crop of 1878 was exported principally to the following countries :—California, about 7,500,000 lb. ; England, 6,300,000 ; Germany, 2,800,000; France, 2,50,000; Belize (chiefly for England), 800,000; New York, 100,000 ; Belgium, 200,000 ; South America, 170,000. It was valued at 16 c. (100 c. . 4s.) a lb. at the port, but was barely worth 13 c. In the lower districts, the beans are dried by being spread on a patio ; at higher altitudes, they are placed in shallow trays with perforated bottoms, and a current of warm, dry air is made to circulate through the building. The coffee is transported mostly on Indians' backs ; a bag (100 lb.) is a load, and 18-24 miles constitute a day's journey, the pay for which is 9d.
Guiana.—Coffee culture in this colony seems to have been at its height in 1803, when nearly 10 million pounds were shipped. Since then, it has gradually declined, and, in 1874, the exports were but 40,000 lb.
Honduras.—The soil in favoured spots is very fertile, and in the gardens of Machaquila and Peten Siik, are coffee-trees yielding 7 and 8 lb. of 14erries. In the neighbourhood of the Belize River, Indian labour is available, and this side of the continent is much preferable to the Pacific slops, where much coffee ia grown, on account of soil and climate, and more particularly as regards the effect of the sun, for it is more or less cloudy here throughout the year, affording the requisite shade to the plant. The lands here at 500-2000 ft. above sea-level, are better than the hills in the interior, if for no other reason on account of the facility of transport.