184 COCOA 



is concerned, is the presence in the colony of cocoa 

 diseases and pests. Natives are difficult to move in such 

 matters. They seem to view any such appearance as a 

 dispensation of Providence, against which they are power- 

 less, and they as often as not put forth no exertion to 

 prevent or destroy them. Cocoa plantations have suffered 

 considerable damage (for the most part in the young 

 state) from both insect and fungoid attacks. In the 

 majority of cases, however, these have been associated 

 with lax methods of husbandry, and in others with un- 

 suitable soil or climatic conditions, or both, and no real 

 serious pest has yet been found in the colony which could 

 not be successfully controlled with display of a little 

 additional care and energy on the part of the native 

 owner. 



The Officers of the Agricultural Department are ever 

 on the alert for any new disease, and no opportunity is 

 lost of impressing the natives with the importance of 

 doing everything possible to prevent the appearance or 

 spread of any pest. As a precautionary measure, legis- 

 lation has been passed prohibiting importation from any 

 other country of cocoa seeds or seedlings. Knapsack 

 sprayers and syringes have been introduced for the use 

 of native farmers, and they are constantly being trained 

 in their use. It must be admitted, however, that in a 

 country like the Gold Coast we are faced with a serious 

 problem in the event of a destructive epidemic break- 

 ing out. 



The commercial aspect of the industry is one of no 

 mean importance. There is no gainsaying the fact that 

 development has been fostered to a very considerable 

 extent by the large trading firms in the colony. Indeed, 

 I might go further and say that the development already 

 attained has only been possible through their agency. 

 The natives prefer to dispose of their cocoa at or near 

 their farms; the transport of the material to the port of 

 shipment is, therefore, very largely in the hands of the 

 mercantile firms who have penetrated the bush, and 

 erected large stores or buying depots wherever and as 

 soon as production warranted such a course. Money is 

 frequently advanced by them on prospective crops, but 



