As already stated, most of the many varieties of coffee upon the market are obtained from one species, and are usually classified according to the countries from which they are shipped. The following are the most important varieties:

  1. African, or Ethiopian Coffee.
    1. Abyssinia.
    2. Galla.
    3. Kaffa.
  2. Arabian, Levant, or Mocha Coffee.
    1. Bohuri.
    2. Sakki.
    3. Salabi.
  3. Dutch Indian Coffee.
    1. Java.
    2. Batavia.
    3. Tscheribon.
    4. Samarang.
    5. Menado of the Celebes.
    6. Dadep of the Celebes.
    7. Sumatra.
  4. American Indian Coffee.
    1. Manila.
    2. Cavita.
    3. Laguna.
    4. Batanges.
    5. Mindanao.
  5. French Indian, or Bourbon Coffee.
  6. English Indian Coffee.
    1. Nilgeri.
    2. Madras.
    3. Ceylon.
      1. Native.
      2. Plantation.
  7. West Indian and Central American Coffee.
    1. Cuba (Havana, Santiago.)
    2. Jamaica.
    3. Santa Lucia.
    4. Trinidad.
    5. Domingo.
    6. Porto Rico.
    7. Martinique.
    8. Guadelupe.
    9. Dominica.
    10. Granada.
    11. Costa Rica.
    12. Guatemala, Nicaragua, Salvador.
  8. South American Coffee.
    1. Surinam.
    2. Berbice, Demerara.
    3. Venezuela, La Guayra, Caracas.
    4. Puerto Cabello, or Coast Porto Rico.
    5. Brazil.

Coffee owes its stimulating properties to an alkaloid caffeine which occurs in the beans as well as in other parts of the plant. Caffeine also occurs in other plants; it is the active principle in Guarana and is perhaps identical with theine, the active principle of tea. It is generally believed that moderate coffee-drinking is beneficial rather than otherwise. It has ever been the favorite drink of those actively engaged in intellectual work. It has been tested and found satisfactory as a stimulant for soldiers on long or forced marches. Injurious effects are due to excessively strong coffee, or a long-continued use of coffee which has been standing for some time and which contains considerable tannin. Caffeine has been found very useful in hemicrania and various nervous affections. It has also been recommended in dropsy due to heart lesion. Strong, black coffee is very valuable in counteracting poisoning by opium and its derivatives. Coffee will also check vomiting. Strong coffee is apt to develop various nervous troubles, as palpitation of the heart, sleeplessness, indigestion, trembling. According to one authority, it is the aromatic principle of coffee which causes sleeplessness.

THE TWO ACORNS.

DR. CHARLES MACKAY.

In ancient time, two acorns, in their cups,

Shaken by winds and ripeness from the tree,