HOcOLATt HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, is? 



they are, I think, '"too slow in their growth. I have seen the horse cassia at>d mammee 

 msed tor this purpose ; and they seein better adapted, froiq the largeness of bulk, anij 

 thick shady leaves. 



When the cacao is six months old, the planter, from tliis period, roust not he too 

 fend of cleaning the walk from grass and herbage ; because ituy keep the ground cool ; 

 but all creeping climbing plants, and such weeds as grow hign enough to overtop thu 

 cacao, should be destroy ed.x Tue distance for laymg ni the seeds uray be about sixteen 

 r eighteen feet from tree to tree. The reason for putting in three seeds is because 

 -they seldom all succeed ; or, if all grow, they will not all. be equally vigorous ; wiienj 

 ^herelore, they are about eighteen inches high, one of theweakesi and most un|)ro- 

 nibing ot the three may be drawn up and tlirovvn away, care being taken not to injure 

 or disturb tb6 roots of the two reuiaming. It is found by experience necessary to plant 

 the seeds where tlie trees are to remain; for the transplanted trees will never thrive, 

 nor bear well, on account, as is supposed, ot the tenderness of the tap-root, wliicli, if 

 it be tue least injuredv will bring on a decay of tiie tree. 



In two years time, the plants, having grown to the height of about five feet, will be- 

 gin to flower ; these first bi(Jssoms are always plucked off; for, if suffered to remain, 

 and produce fruit, the vigoin- of the trees wiil be greatly impaired, and they will never 

 bear well after wardij. Their fruit is not allowed to remain for maturit_\ tni the third 

 year, and then only go much as seems proportioned to the strength of each tree. By 

 these precauvious they will afterwards yield a larger, better ncninghed fruit, and hold 

 their vigour much longer. In the fourth year they are permitted to bear a moJerate 

 crop, but some flowers are geuerally pulled off froui those that appear too weak, in 

 order that they may recover their strength, before they are old. When planted in a 

 good soil, and properly managed, they will continue vigorous ani fruitful for thirty 

 years. They bear two cro|5s a year ; the greatest in December or January, the other 

 in May; and from the time when the Sowers drup off, to the maturity of the truit is 

 about lour months. I'he time of maturity is known by the yellowness of the pods, and 

 the rattling of the nuts, when the pods are shaken. The4atterai-e then plucked, the 

 nuts picked out, and leaving the pulp, if any remains upon them, they are exposed 

 every day to the sun, for a month, upon mats, blankets, or skins.* It is best not to 

 was ii oft the pulp, as it makes them keep the longer. The pod^ cantain no certain 

 number; they iiavefrom ten to twenty and even thirty iiuti; but this depends chieHy 

 -on the right training them during the first tiiree pr four years of their growth. Wlien 

 thoroughly cured or dried, they are ready for the market. 



Altera walk is once established it. renews itself, the roots sending out suckers, to 

 ^supply the phice of the old stocks, when decayed or cut down. 



The produce of one tree is generally estimated at about twenty pounds of nuts. The 

 produce ptr acre m Jamaica has been rated at (me thousimd pmnd-s per annum, allow- 

 ing tor bad years. In poor soils, and under bad management, the produce per tree 

 rart'ly cxcee.ls eight p.ounds Weight. The chemical oil extracted from the nuts is ex- 

 tremely hot, and esteemed a good euilirocatiou ia pM'aiytic cases; the Mexicans are 

 sal to eat the nuts raw, to assuage pains in the bowels. 



Tlie chocolate, so much. anCt so justly preferred by the West Indian natives to most 

 Other aliments, is highly restorative, insomuch, that one ounce of it is said to nrmrish 

 : ai* mucii as a pound of beef. It is esteemed in all countries where it is known, and is 



Pb.3 fouui 



^* It is uaual first to laj the pods in heaps t9 t veat for three ot four days before they are opeaei]. 



