He applies saltpetre in a finely-powdered state, dusted over the tree when wet with rain or dew.  The operation is inexpensive, as a very small quantity suffices, one cwt. being sufficient for nine or ten acres.  It can be applied through a bamboo-joint covered with a perforated top, or any equally simple contrivance.

Messrs. Worms’ are reported to have found coco-nut oil an effectual remedy.

To sum up the question of manures:—­

Poonac, the marc or cake, after the coco-nut oil is expressed, is represented to be a stimulating manure; but is not durable.  Lime is an useful application, especially to stiff soils, as the coffee tree contains 60 parts of lime.  Bone-dust is an excellent fertiliser, but in Ceylon it is found that it cannot be applied at a less expense than L5 per acre.  Cattle manure is the cheapest and most available.  Guano does not seem suitable.

Peeling, pulping, and winnowing.—­The coffee-peeler, used for separating the bean from the pellicle, was formerly a large wheel revolving in a trough, the disadvantage of which was the flattening more or less of the bean when not thoroughly dry.  A new machine has been recently introduced, the invention of Mr. Nelson, C.E., of the Ceylon iron works, by which this evil is obviated; its principle being not weight, but simple friction, of sufficient force to break the parchment at first, and, when continued, to polish the bean free from the husk.  A very simple winnowing machine for cleaning the coffee as it comes out of the peeler, is attached.  From the winnowing machine it runs into the separating machine, which sorts it into sizes, and equalizes the samples, by which a vast amount of time and manual labour are saved.  The same principle is intended to be applied by Mr. Nelson to pulping, which will obviate the injury now inflicted by the grater upon the fresh berry.  In spite of the greatest care numbers of the beans in a sample, on close examination, will be found scratched or pecked; and when the closest attention is not paid, or the person superintending the process is devoid of mechanical skill, the injury is proportionate.

The ordinary pulping-mill in use, consists of a cylinder of wood or iron, covered with sheet brass or copper, and punctured similarly to a nutmeg grater.  This cylinder, technically called the barrel, runs upon a spindle, which turns a brass pick on each side of a frame.  Immediately in a line with the centre upon which it turns, and placed vertical to each other, are two pieces of wood, frequently shod with iron of copper, called “the chops,” placed about half an inch apart, or sufficient to allow the passage of “parchment” coffee between them.  The lower chop is placed so close to the barrel, yet without contact, that all coffee must be stopped by it and thrown outwards.  The upper chop is adjusted to that distance only which will permit the cherry coffee to come into contact with the barrel; but will