Vol. XVIII. No. 451. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



245 



THE BEHAVIOUR OF CACAO ON THE 

 GOLD COAST. 



Some instructive information concerning the behaviour 

 of different varieties of cacao on the Gold Coist is given in 

 the Report on the Agricultural Department of that colony 

 for the year 1917. For the information of those readers 

 who are not familiar with cacao cultivation, it may be point- 

 ed out that varieties of cacao are roughly divided into two 

 classes: (1) Criollo, and (2) Forasiero. As will be githered 

 from an article on Criollo in ihe present issue of the Agri- 

 cultuml Nm<s, the first class is of a higher quality bat_ less 

 hardy than the Forastero. This last-named class comprises a 

 much larger variety of types, and includes several wel known 

 ones like Cundeamor, ( Jcuraare, and Amelonado. In the 

 report under consideration, the behaviour of t'lese types at 

 the different experiment stations on the Gold Coast are des- 

 cribed. At Aburi, the Cundeamor variety is itported on as 

 giving 461 3 pods a tree in 1917 as against 39-93 pods per 

 tree in 1916. It require I an average of 1043 pods to make 

 1 B). of cacao, and the average yield of dried cacao per tree 

 was 414ft). Concerning Ocumare variety, the total number 

 of fruiting trees was 32, and the total pods collected was 

 1,067 makmg an average per tree of 3:j-34 pods against 1.5-24 

 pods in 1916. The average number of pods required to 

 make IBb. of dried cacao was 1322, and the average yield of 

 dried cacao per tree was 221 tt). As regards Criollo, both 

 the red and yellow forms, the total number of fruiting trees 

 was 89, and the number of p'^ds gathered 2,1.52, making an 

 average per tree of 24-18. The average number of pods 

 required to make 1 lb. of oacao was 16-97 and the average 

 yield of dried cacao per tree was 1-38 D). It is stated that 

 insect attack contributed largely to the smallness of the pods. 

 A table is given to show the sisceptibility of each variety to 

 diseases and pests. This table is very instructive, and the 

 percentages of affected pods for each variety are as follows : 

 Amelonado .54-60 per cent., Ocumare .52-95 per cent, Cun- 

 deam'ir 59 74 per cent , Criollo 7379 per cent, 



At the Coomassie Experiment Station it is stated that 

 ,the trees of all varieties, especially the green Criollo have 

 made considerable progress though it is also reported that 

 certain insect pests caused considerable trouble, 'especially in 

 theCriol o varieties'. A table is given showing the number 

 of diseased pods from different varieties at the station, and 

 we have -calculated the appro.ximate percentages to be 

 as follows; Amelonado 4 percent., Cundeamor 6 per cent., 

 Ocumare 5 per cent., Green Criollo t per cent., Red Criollo 

 6 per cent 



Tlie remarkabU low percentage of infested pods at the 

 Coomassie Station compared with the percentages given for 

 the Aburi Station will be noticed. The report offers no 

 explanation. It will also be noticed that at Coomassie the 

 Criollo types iipi>ear to be no more susceptible than the 

 Forastero 



A PROMISING CROP FOR PORTO RICO. 



Up to quite recently, species of vanilla of economic 

 value were almost unknown in Porto Rico ; according 

 to Bulletin M, of the Porto Rico Experiment Statioi, 

 vanilla is now regarded as one of the promising new 

 crops. The following is the summary to this Bulletin 

 prepared by T. B. McClelland :— 



lo spite of conditions admirably adapted for the pro- 

 duction of vanilla Ihe crop has never been grown commercially 

 in Porto Rico. 



While the price of vanilla is not what it formerly was 

 the consumption has increased greatly.' 



An import duty into the United States of 30 cents a 

 pound means an advantage of exactly that amount for vanilla 

 grown in Porto Rico. 



Ettract made from beans grown locally his been 

 pronounced of excellent quality. From the reports of 

 dealers to whom beans have been sold or samples suomitted, 

 this vanilla is worth from $2 to •'$4 a pound under the 

 market conditions of the last two or three seasons. 



From a small plat the crop (which was marketed at 

 less than four years from the time the cuttings were set) 

 averaged about one- third pound cured beans per fruiting 

 vine. The gross returns from the sale of this crop were at 

 thi? rate of a little less than $400 per acre. The year 

 following, the yield avf-raged more than one-half pound 

 cured beans per vine. This crop was not sold, but from 

 valuations placed on samples submitted to vanilla dealers it 

 would have yielded gross returns a the rate of approximately 

 S700 to -§900 per acre. The crop of the following year 

 from these and younger vines on a one-tenth acre plat 

 amounted to 3644 pounds and sold for §109 31. 



In starting a v miliary, the land should first be cleared 

 and then planted with the trees which are to support the 

 vanilla vines. 



The dwarf bucare {Erv//iri/ia coraViKlemlroa) has proved 

 well adapted for this purpose, and it is easily propagated 

 from cuttings. 



On steeply sloping land the rows should run with the 

 contour lines of the slope and should be terraced in order to 

 retain a mulch around the vines, as vanilla roots grow much 

 better in a le-if mulch thin in sod .done, and the maintenance 

 of a good ni'ilch of decaying vegetable matter is important. 



Long cuttings make much more ra|iid growth and come 

 into production sooner than short ones. 



The shade trees mist be pruned to avoid too dense a 

 shade, which is detrimental to the development of the vines. 

 A light shade admitting checkered sunlight is preferable to 

 full exposure to the sun. 



The rapid growth of the succu'ent brittle vines demands 

 frequent attention from ihe planter to keep them in proper 

 shade and within easy rtach for pollinating. 



Hmd-pollination must be used with vanilla. The number 

 of blossoms pollinated has a most pron unced effect on the size 

 of the beans. The poUioator may choose between a limited 

 number of handsome, well-developed beans and a larger 

 number of short, inferior, poorly developed ones, since, the 

 blossoms are generally produced greatly in excess of the 

 number of beans which the plant is able to develop properly. 



Labour for pollination is needed principally in Mirch and 

 April : for picking the crop from September or October to 

 January ; and for curing and preparation for market from 

 picking time to late spring. 



As the various operations require a considerable 

 expenditure of time, care and money, anyone who is un- 

 willing or unable to give the requisite attention lo this crop 

 should not attempt its production. Under proper manage- 

 ment, however, it shi'uid prove highly piofitable. 



The small bulk and imperishability of the finished 

 product commend vanilla culture, particularly for such 

 districts as are accessible only by poor roads over which 

 bulky and more perishable produce cannot be cniied. 



