22; 



marvellous rapidity, and during the past year 113,239,980 lb., 

 valued at 2,489,218, were exported. 



The farms are owned and cultivated almost exclusively by 

 natives. 



Many initial mistakes have been made in the formation of 

 plantations and in the preparation of the cocoa, but the spread 

 of education amongst the farmers has already effected a con- 

 siderable improvement, and the general quality of the product 

 becomes yearly better. 



The soil and climatic conditions are well suited for cocoa 

 culture. 



Insect pests and fungoid diseases have been the cause of a 

 considerable amount of damage to plantations, and are now, 

 and must always be, matters of grave concern in a country 

 like the Gold Coast ; their depredations do not readily dis- 

 courage a people who from time immemorial have been accus- 

 tomed to shifting rather than permanent cultivations. 



The industry is greatly hampered through want of cheap 

 and efficient transport within the Colony. The bulk of the 

 transport at present is by means of head-loads, and, in spite of 

 a considerable influx of labourers from adjoining territory 

 during the harvest season, much difficulty is often experienced 

 in getting the cocoa conveyed to the port of shipment. 



This transport is arranged, for the most part, by the mer- 

 cantile community who have penetrated the bush and erected 

 stores or buying-depots there. 



Railways and roads are being rapidly extended and will in 

 time to a great extent alleviate this. 



All sections of the community are interested in cocoa 

 culture, and, unless some unforeseen circumstance should 

 intervene the exports already great should yet be much greater. 



The following table of exports, at intervals of five years, 

 serves to show the rapid and steady development of the 

 industry : 



COCOA EXPORTED FROM THE GOLD COAST. 



* Increase in two years only. 



