Firstly.  Cleared forest lands, especially those in which the black leafy, or vegetable mould is found to considerable depth.  These are the richest grounds, and will support the coffee plant for many years, and they are also cultivated with the least trouble.

Secondly.  Dark brown soils, approaching to black, which, without having much clay in them, appear to the eye to have a mixture of coral.  The greater the depth of this coral-like stratum, and of the reddish or deep yellowish soil, the better is the ground for coffee.  This kind of land also has sufficient strength and substance to afford nourishment for many years to the plant; but it entails more trouble than the before mentioned soils, because the young plant does not so speedily strike root into it, and sometimes dies, so that provision has to be made against failures.

Thirdly.  Reddish and loose ground, such as is generally found in the neighbourhood of volcanic lands.  This kind is frequently found well adapted for coffee; it flourishes on such land luxuriantly, but does not last long, as the ground possesses less strength and nourishing substance.[6] By digging in different places we become better acquainted with the nature of the ground, but we may take it as a rule, that rich old forest land on which many larger trees are found, and plains covered with heavy underwood, most frequently offer eligible sites for coffee plantations.

Grounds in which loam is found, and stony soils, are unfit for coffee.  But I do not mean by “stony soils” land on which many stones are lying, for on that very account it may be most suitable; but I mean land which shows a pebbly stratum just below the surface, or such as is of a porous, stony nature.  In the choice of situation care must be taken to select that which is as much as possible protected against the south-east wind, because its dry influence is very injurious to the coffee plant, and also prevents the growth of the Erythrina (known here locally as the Dadap tree) which is so necessary for its shade.  Flat grounds, or gentle declivities, are better than steep slopes; yet the latter can be well employed if proper care is taken.

Cultivation.—­After the ground has been cleared in the dry season—­that is, after the bushes have been rooted out, the undergrowth burnt off, and the thickets removed—­ploughing is commenced in September.  When the ground has twice been deeply ploughed, the weeds and roots must be brought together with the rake and carefully burnt.  The depth of the ploughing must be regulated by the nature of the ground.  In all kinds of cultivation, deep ploughing is recommended, but in Java we ought not to plough deeper than the stratum of fertile soil, as a kind of subsoil may be wrought uppermost injurious to plants, and which, before it can become fertile, must for a year at least have been exposed to the atmosphere.