18 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTDRAL SOCIETY. 



Cacao. — Chocolate plants, as we shall now for convenience 

 denominate the Cacao trees from which chocolate is prepared^ 

 were originally carried from America to the Old World. They 

 are now cultivated in many parts of the eastern tropical belt, 

 as well as in Central and South America and the West Indian 

 Islands. The plant demands rich soil and a good deal of shelter. 

 One of the most interesting features of this plant is the coming 

 out of the blossoms and fruit on the older parts of the stems. 

 After the fruits are gathered they are opened and their almond- 

 like seeds are spread out for the removal of a part of the pulp. 

 They then undergo a kind of heating process, popularly and not 

 very improperly called " fermentation." The seeds freed from 

 the still clinging, but now rather dry pulp are ready for shipment. 



[The cultivation of the banana and its allies and the treatment 

 of palms for the best yield of fruits were next considered at much 

 length, after which the subject of spices came up. The lecturer 

 then spoke of the life of the tropical horticulturist, noting his 

 fondness for plants strange to his own surroundings. He enu- 

 merated the principal annoying weeds of the tropics, especially 

 Mimosa and the tuberous species of Oxalis.] 



Ginger, Annotto, Curcuma, and a few other species were studied 

 by me in a plantation where Cacao was being successfully culti- 

 vated. The work requires a large margin of capital, energy, 

 patience, and health. The tropical cultivator, especially he who 

 has large interests, is subjected to a heavy strain in such a climate. 

 There are perils from invasions of insects and fungi to be guarded 

 against. There are constant improvements in varieties, eagerly 

 seized by competitors, and these must be met. The delights, 

 however, are many, and are attractive to certain temperaments. 

 I^ature is at its best in the tropics ; life is full to the brim. 

 Though there is not the keen zest in sports and study which is- 

 gained from the crisp air of a colder climate, still one can retreat 

 to the hills to gather fresh strength for a new lease of life in the 

 plains. For the children of the English-speaking planter such 

 retreat is absolutely necessary, at short intervals. 



If now, in brief resume, we reduce this complicated question to 

 its lowest terms, we see that tropical horticulture has this rfemark- 

 able peculiarity : it is conducted under conditions wholly favor- 

 able to the life of plants. But just here lies the peril. What is 

 good for one plant is, generally speaking, good for another, and 



