. XIV. No. 332. 



I I AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



is effected rather on the soil than i fees, and thai 



the shading of the soil is the mos1 ii portanl function oi the 

 shade trees, the soil thereb) being maintained in tilth; 

 that without shade trees more attention has id to 



operations of tilling idma [t ma) ierha] 



ted thai tl icti oi ■ oi the shade ■ the 



soil may also assisl in dn .- it, thus enabling cacao to 



grow in heavier and wetter soils than would otherwise be 



possible. The whole subjecl ma) w< I receive re >ved 



ration on the pari of plantei - have 1 liese i •<■ i - efore 



their mind. 



The sensitiveness "i the caca ■ tree to wind is well 

 recognized, and the use oi trees as wind-breaks and shelter 

 belts is discussed: the value of man) different kinds of trees is 

 mentioned, reference being made to the possible use of 

 forms of rubber-producing trees in this connexion. 



Mattel • '■ lal ing to the fermentfi 

 are deall with at considerable length, md the \ iri >us methods 

 in vogue in differenl countries are carefully described in a 

 manner conveying most useful information. Knowledge con- 

 ning the changes taking place in the processof fermenta- 

 tion is summarized and brought up to date in a clear and 

 intelligent manner, thoughil i- evident that from a chemical 



point of vii w, much work still remains to be d to compli t< 



our knowledge of this subject. Seeing thai the effect of 

 fermentation is best judged by the users of cacao, ii may be 

 regarded as a matter of reproach that the large and wealthy 

 firms connected with the manufactun of cocoa and chocolate 

 have done so little to investigate the question of fermentation, 

 and tn provide information as to their requirements for 

 guidance of planters, who are governed in their methods of 

 production b) the demands oi the users. Free exchange oi 

 ideas between the users and the producers would lead to 

 improvement in the qualitj of cacao produced in many 

 districts. 



Agood account is given of the systems of drying in vogue 

 in all the principal cacao-growing countries, and, in connexion 

 with drying, valid reasons are put forward forthe practice of 

 claying in certain circumstances, while it is recognized that 

 this practice is unnecessary in others, and is open to abuse. 



As may be expected, the chapter on diseases ami enemies 

 of cacao is an exceedingly good one. It deals with those thai 

 are known in all the various cacao growing counl ries: i useful 

 table- classifying the diseases and enemies, based cm the parts 

 of the tree attacked, will prove of service to the planter in 

 enabling him t<> determine, in an) giv< d case, the cause oi tin- 

 trouble he may have to deal with, and thus enable him to 

 employ the appropriate remedy. 



The life-histories, effects on tin tree, and the precautions 

 to be taken to control pests and diseases are dealt with in 

 a clear straightforward manner. While abundant informa- 

 tion i> given, there i> no attempt to overload the work with 

 a mass of scientific detail: the requirements of the planter 

 have been carefully kepi before the writer, and he has 

 succeeded in arranging the available knowledge and infor- 

 mation ina manner thai will prove of real service to the 

 to grower. 



A very important pari oi the i Ii is that which deals in 



some detail with the methods of cacao growing in each of the 

 several countries when- this commodity is produced. This is 

 remarkably interesting and instructivereading; for the infor- 

 mation, though given tersely, is ven complete, and throws 



light on the conditions of soil and climate of the varieties 



cultivated, the manner in which tin workisdone, the vari 

 pests and diseases met with in each i nuntry, together with the 

 extent of the trade and its progress. This important section 

 occupies about one-third of the 1 k, and forms a valuable 



vorl oi reference which will be appreciated by caca 

 the world over. 



Full considers ii given to tl 'I 



mu\ the Lesser Antilles. In connexion with thi latti 

 deal oi attention is given to the circumstanci oi Gi 



on ace i oi i be cultivation being i arrii d 



it the use of shade trees; while, i nay 

 from the author', intimate acquaintance with these countries, 

 very interesting accounts are given of th ind str) in Surinam 

 and in Java. 



West Indian readers will find much that is instructi i 

 the accounts of the industry as carried on in the large 

 ducing countries, such a, Ecuador, Venezuela, I, 



St. Thome, and the Gold Coast, and. while noting the pro 

 gress of these countries, will form a cleai ippi 

 of their ov, n position in I he cacao world. 



A chapter on the c iei :acao describes the 



characteristic of the ketab] ■ produced 



country, and the methods by which the) • ! - 



commercially; .this forms a valuable compendium of infor- 

 mal ion. Following this i ion d to the ma 

 with another on the market prices of differenl sorts of 



- with a table showing tic- production of various 

 countries for tic- five years 1908-12, and the consump- 

 tion in the various importing countries forth inn eriod. 

 This chapter is a mine of information. 



The final chapter deals briefly with the cocoa .1 



chocolate industry, showing in outline how on,,;, i choco 



lati are made, and the extent nf the industry in various 

 countries. In this latter connexion it is important to 

 changes that have taken place in the industry, and to 

 recognize the greal relative advance made by the United 

 Stales, Germany, Holland, and Switzerland. 



The attention of everyone interested in th pi 

 of and trade in cacao ma) be cordially directed to this work. 

 It is replete with information of a practical charai i 



may be taken as the most complete general account <i the 

 subjecl that has yel appeared. 



The Balata Industry in British Guiana. - 

 According to the correspondent of the India Ruhher World, 

 Deci mber 1, 1914, the balata industry has been somewhat de- 



pre eil from the effects of the war. The season is practically 

 now over, and although from a producing point of vie'B tl h IS 



I n fairly good, from a selling point it has been somewh I 



appointing, ow fog to the unsettling of the markets as at 

 the \\m-. During the last two months, however, tin- 

 has somewhat improved, ami fairly heav) shipment 



' n made. 



Several years of drought have combined to depress he 

 industry, but with improved weathei - inditions this season, 

 the producers hoped to recoup the losses sustain* I in 

 recent years, limine; which the industr) has passed thr iugh 



a ver) trying period. The effect of the war on the n 

 lias ver) min h lessened this expectation. 



The war has had also another depressing effect i he 



industry, because it has caused the post] -meut of the 



project of the railway into the interior lands of the Colony. 

 The improvement of communications with the interior must, 

 be an important factor in tin- successful prosecution of the 

 balata industry. The postponement of this railway 

 can onl) be temporary however, and thedemandfor balata 

 will doubth 3S lie much increased before verj i 



The balata export from British Guiana fo: p to 



September 23 was 883,392 He. as compared with 829,157 lb. 

 for the corresponding period last year. Ibid it in- been ' • 



-hown by shippers in i be face oi « a 

 exports might very probably have reached a record figure. 



