A FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW 



OF THE 



IMPERIAL DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE WEST INDIES. 



»«'ANICAL 

 GAROfiM i 



Vol. XVIII. No. 441. 



BARBADOS. MARCH 22, 1919. 



Prici! Id 



Page 



Page. 



The Work of the Future. 



future 



iir. 



^HE production of cacao constitutes another 

 ^important West Indian industry which is 



, worth considering in the outlook towards the 

 Cacao growing is sure to prove attractive to 

 several of the newly developing tropical countries 

 which are likely to come into prominence as the out- 

 come of readjustment after the war. Already the 

 phenomenal growth of production oti the Gold Coast 

 causes western growers to look anxiously to the future, 

 aud their only source of comfort lies in the inefficiency 

 of their competitors. This inefficiency may diminish, 

 the competition may become increasingly acute 



Safety for West Indian producers seems to lie'[in 

 increasii jg cfficienc}-. As matters now stand, it may 

 be conceded that the c icao growers of Grenada are 

 highly efficient in respect to the quantity of cacao 

 which they can produce per acre; efficient, that is, in 

 comparison with some other cacao-producing countries. 

 But even here there are weak spots which it is recog- 

 nized require remedy, and even here there are features 

 of the industry which have received comparatively little 

 consideration. 



It is a striking feature of this industry, as will be 

 said later of the cotton industry, that the producers of 

 the raw material are singularl}- ignorant of the 

 requirements of the users of that material. This is 

 probably more the fault of the users than of the growers, 

 for a secrecy has been observed in regard to the 

 manipttlation of cocoa and chocolate which tends Co 

 retard the desired exchange of information between 

 manufacturer and grower. Doubtless much better re- 

 sults eou'd be obtained in the preparation of raw cacao, 

 if the needs of tht^ manufftcturers were more accurately 

 known. As matters now stand, the preparation 

 is largely a matter of tradition based on rule of thumb. 

 There is room for much investigation and research here, 

 and work in this direction would undoubtedly be to the 

 interest of the West Indian producer as well as that of 

 the British user. Research work will assuredly soon be 

 carried out to the benefit of those concerned with the 

 industry. It remains to be seen whether the work 

 will be done under British auspices, and whether the 

 resultant benefits will accrue to British citizens. 



Similar reflections might be made concerning other 

 West Indian industries, such as those connected with 



