ABSTRACT
Fires are lighted on the higher part of the slopes and allowed to burn slowly downhill. Every evening during the months of January and February the hills around San Andres glow with the reflection of the fires that have been lighted in preparation for planting, or to encourage the growth of new, fresh green grass. The labour needed to burn a large field is always considerable, and has to be completed before the rainy season starts. Coffee plantings are started from saplings growing wild in established coffee plantations. Saplings are given free of charge to any individual requesting them, partly because they grow wild and the demand is limited. The coffee berries are hand-picked, the ripe ones being carefully selected on each branch, and a coffee grove has to be gone over several times before harvesting is completed.
