IMPERFECT CULTIVATION. 223 



process of fermentation ; proper houses are erected for trie recep- 

 tion and drying of the article on its being removed from the 

 sweating room. As a consequence, Trinidad cacao is well received 

 on the markets of Europe and the United States. It is generally 

 shipped by the proprietors to agents in Europe, the inferior 

 article only being sold in the colony. 



Besides the two species or varieties — the Cacao Criollo and the 

 Forastero — there are not a few other sub-varieties exhibiting 

 distinct qualities, and, in my opinion, selection should be attended 

 to in the formation of any new plantation. 



For many years drainage had been completely disregarded ; 

 lately, however, it has been found not only useful, but absolutely 

 necessary in certain localities ; and, where resorted to, the results 

 have been most remarkable. 



At one time, and that of not a far back date, the cacao 

 plantations were negligently weeded with the cutlass twice a year, 

 mainly to facilitate the gathering of the crop. They were not 

 methodically pruned, nor cleared of parasites, mosses, and lichens. 

 I have often thought that the horse-hoe might be employed in 

 the cacao walks with advantage. Generally speaking, the weeds 

 to be found on cacao plantations are soft and not very deep- 

 rooted, whilst the mould being deep, there would be very little 

 obstruction to the working of that instrument. The work done 

 I by the horse-hoe would certainly be better and cheaper also, I 

 believe, than that performed with the cutlass; for, with the 

 latter, the grass and weeds are only cut at from one to two 

 inches above the ground, the surface not being even scratched ; 

 whereas, with the former, there would be a thorough deep 

 weeding. But the horse-hoe could not be used in old-established 

 cacao estates, where the roots of the " Bois Immortel 3> and those 

 of the cacao trees themselves form an inextricable network of 

 [impediment to a surface action. Such practice should be resorted 

 ito primarily in young plantations, and then might be continued 

 las they advanced in growth ; this I throw out as a suggestion to 

 iany enterprising cacao planters. The common hand-hoe, how- 

 ever, ought to be used immediately around each plant. This is, 

 also, as far as I know, the practice on the Spanish main, where 

 the cultivation of the cacao plant is better understood than in 

 liny other country. A friend of mine tried the fork in his cacao 

 tlantation, and with very beneficial results, as he informed me. 



