96 ' BRITISH HONDURAS. 



planted at the same time, or, if possible, before the cacao, and so 

 arranged that a shade-tree will come in between every third 

 cacao-tree. 



A cacao plantation should be in full bearing about the 

 seventh year. After that, its management is simple and easy, 

 and requires less labour than almost any other cultivation of 

 equal value. 



Siberian coffee. As for cacao, so with this important low- 

 country plant, it is very desirable to plant it at first under the 

 shade of bananas. This large-beaned coffee is a native of the 

 West Coast, of Africa, and its chief economic value is based on 

 the fact that it will grow in the plains 'at sea-level, where the 

 preliminary expenses in the acquisition and clearing of land are 

 naturally much lower than in the interior, where also labour 

 is cheaper and more plentiful, and where the difficulties and 

 expenses' of transport are considerably reduced. These charac- 

 teristics give Liberian coffee advantages not only over its con- 

 gener the Arabian coffee, but also over almost any cultivation 

 requiring the same capital and attention. 



The market value of Liberian coffee is not so high as some 

 of the best classes of Arabian coffee. The last sales of this 

 coffee in the American market have realised 90s. per cwt. This, 

 as compared with 100s. to 120s. (or even, for the best Jamaica 

 coffee, 140s.) per cwt., does not necessarily involve a lower 

 return for the planter. From the adaptability of the Liberian 

 coffee to cultivation in the plains, and from its more robust and 

 prolific character, and from the generally more economic treat- 

 ment to which -it is amenable, it is quite possible that its culti- 

 vation will prove even more remunerative than the high-priced 

 varieties of the Arabian coffee. 



Again, the fact that the American market is so favourable 

 to this large-beaned and prolific coffee, gives its cultivation in 



