47 



Experiment Plots. 



Plot No. 1. An area over 1 J acres in extent of established 

 cacao trees (Theobroma Cacao), native of Central America, 

 divided into five manurial plots. These have been maintained 

 for twenty years (see Annual Reports on the Botanic Gardens), 

 and they have afforded valuable indications in regard to the 

 manurial treatment of cacao in the island. 



The three varieties of Theobroma Cacao are known 

 respectively, by the name of Criollo, Forastero, and Calabacillo, 

 and there are sub- varieties existing between the main types. 

 The Criollo variety yields the best produce, but it is delicate, 

 and cannot be successfully grown on a large scale under the 

 climatic conditions of Dominica. Consequently the hardy 

 Forastero, and still more hardy Calabacillo, are chiefly grown. 



The pods when ripe are cut off the trees, and placed in 

 heaps. Women then break the pods and extract the beans, 

 which are put in boxes to undergo fermentation for a period 

 of six or seven days, care being taken to turn the beans daily. 

 After this process is finished, the beans are spread out on trays, 

 and danced upon or rubbed by hand, to remove the pulp, 

 previous to their being dried for export. 



Cacao is produced on a considerable scale in Dominica, 

 the exports for 1919 having been 7,387 cwt., valued at 37,293. 



Plot No. 2. This contains fifty-two grafted plants of a 

 selected variety of Forastero cacao. The plot is interesting as 

 being one of the first field experiments with grafted cacao 

 plants. 



Plot No. 3. This contains a small collection of citrus 

 plants budded on sour orange stocks. Here may be seen the 

 Shaddock and Pomelo, Citrus decumana, and the well-known 

 Grapefruit a variety of this species. Also the Portugal 

 orange, Citrus Aurantium, var. lusitanica ; the Sweet lime, 

 Citrus medica, var. Limetta ; and two kinds of the Lemon, 

 Citrus medica, var. Limonum. \0{ 



The various species of citrus now so widely cultivated in 

 the Tropics are all of Eastern origin, and were originally 

 introduced into the West Indies by the Spaniards. 



