The plant has been largely introduced into other of our Colonies, into Brazil, and by the Dutch into Java. In the West Indiea it grows exceedingly well, and bids defiance to the blight (Cemio stoma coffeellum); it has a further advantage in this case that the ripened berries remain ao long on the trees as to enable the crop to be gathered by few hands. It flourishes best on the " heavy bottom" lands, and in poor moist lands, and is recommended as particularly valuable for planting on cocoa eatates. By grafting or inarching the Arabian species on dents of Liberica, an increased growth is obtained.
Madagascar.—Coffee grows wdl in most parts of Madagascar ; in recent years, large plantations have been formed along the banks of the rivers on the eastern aide of the island. These are chiefly managed by Creole traders, who employ slave labour. Coffee already promises to become a very important article of export.
Mexico.—Though Mexico scarcely figures in the coffee-producing countries, its capacity and adaptability have been tested by successful cultivation. The productive regions are found on the sea slope of the mountains : on the Pacific side, from Guatemala, for more than a thousand miles to the north, till reaching a line of occasional frost in the State of Sinaloa; and on the Gulf coast, from Yucatan into Tamaulipas, for more than a thousand miles. In addition, it flourishes in the valleys of the interior, wherever the table-land is depressed to the level of tropical and semi-tropical vegetation. The elevation above the sea, at which it is cultivated, varies from 4500 ft., and even higher, down to nearly sea-level in many localities on both coasts. The production need only be limited by the extent of land brought under cultivation. Mexico as a coffee-producing country has been tested by more than fifty years of experience. That coffee has not assumed the first place in exportation is to be attributed to the same causes which have retarded all development' of the country. Hitherto, the production has been mostly consumed by the home demand, which is quite large, as coffee is in very general use by all classes ; but during tbe past few years, the cultivation has increased, ao that a small exportation bas commenced. The statistics of the port of Vera Cruz indicate a steady development of the export, which ought in a few years to become considerable :-1871, 672,588 lb. ; 1872, 1,912,020 ; 1873, 3,909,446 ; 1874, 4,204,446 ; 1875, 5,375,678.
The young plants are transplanted from the nurseries at twelve to eighteen months, to the fields, which are prepared in open forests, and on mountain sides affording shade. In open fields, a growing shade must be created, usually by planting bananas ; but the best cultivators set out cinchona and valuable timber trees, aa oak, walnut, &c. The second year after planting gives a very slight yield of coffee ; the third year, about a half crop ; and the fourth year (or when the plant is five years old), a full crop. The plants are set out usually about three yards apart each way, though often closer. The cultivation consists in keeping the fields clean, and ploughing ;
in certain localities, irrigation is necessary ; the best planters prune carefully, keeping the height at 6-8 ft. The first flowering is sometimes as early as December ; the second, in February ; the third and most abundant, in March and April. The berries are dried by exposure to the sun, when they shrivel, and change to a black colour. They are then put into a mortar, and the beans are hulled or beaten out with a pestle, and are then separated front the parchrnent by the crude procesa of winnowing, though sometimes a fan-mill is used. So far, no disease of plant or berry has appeared ; and although great drought may diminish the crop, it doea not destroy it. The flower, when in full bloom, is sometimes broken off by aevere winds ; but this seldom diminishes the yield.
The trees continue bearing for tvventy to twenty-five years. There are, however, trees sixty to seventy years old, which are yielding a fine crop. The average yield per tree is about lb., though with intelligent pruning and tuanuring, it may be increased to 3 lb. a tree. It is not uncommon to find trees yielding 5-7 lb., and in very exceptional cases, 25-50 lb. each. After the plants begin to bear a full crop, the annual cost of cultivation, up to sale in local market, is 6-7 cents. a pound. The above remarks refer especially to the region around Cordova, which is at present the greatest producer of the republic, and the most accessible to the American market ; but several other localities are assuming some importance. One of these is the district of Soconusco, in the State of Chiapas, immediately upon the borders of the republic of Guatemala. Several foreigners and a number of resident proprietors have ernbarked in the cultivation. The special advantages presented here are cheapness of land and labour ; the chief impediment is the fact that this district is disputed territory, claimed by both Mexico and Guatemala, and the tenure and protection of property are insecure. The valley of TJruapan, in the State of Michoacan, has great celebrity for its superior quality of coffee. But the most noted region is the State of Colima, on the Pacific coast ; its product is so highly esteemed that it cummands a fabulous price in the City of Mexico, and more distant places in the republic. The favourable report on sample lota sent to Europe in 1873 gave an impetus to the cultivation. Since that year, over one million plants have been set out, and are now beginning to bear : planting continues t,o increase, and coffee promises to become the principal article of export. The demand is so great that large lots fetch 27i cents per pound at the plantation, mainly for consumption in the interior, a small portion only beiug shipped to .Germany by resident German merchants, on private orders. Colima, and some other States, have passed liberal laws for the encouragement of coffee cultivation, offering premiums for the largest crop produced, and exempting coffee lands from all taxes.