THE COCOA TREE AXD ITS FRUIT 



II 



reproduced, represents it with -its comparatively large fruits or pods, 

 borne on the main stem. This might be thought at first to be an error 

 of the artist, but it is in fact a rude expression of one of the most 

 remarkable peculiarities of the plant. As will be shown presently, 

 when a fuller description is given, the fruits are, as a rule, formed 

 on the older parts. The engraving shows that the cocoa tree is shel- 

 tered by a larger tree of some other kind near it. This practise of 

 planting a sheltering tree to shade the young cocoa tree for a time is 



still kept up wherever the plant is 

 successfully cultivated. It is cer- 

 tainly interesting that this point in 

 cultivation, which might easily have 

 been thought to be accidental or 

 local, was delineated more than 

 three centuries ago. 



The seeds of the tree are borne 

 in pods, which are irregular and 

 angular in shape, much like some 

 forms of cucumbers, but more 

 pointed at the lower extremity, and 

 more distinctly grooved. These 

 pods measure in length nine inches 

 tQ_._a_jEpot, or even more, and about half as much in diameter. 

 The color, when young, is green, becoming later dark yellow or 

 yellowish brown. The rind is thick and tough. The pods are 

 tilled with closely packed " beans," or seeds, embedded in a 

 mass of cellular tissue, sometimes of pleasant subacid taste. The 

 seeds are about as large as ordinary almonds, whitish when 

 fresh, and of a disagreeable bitter taste. When dried they become 

 brown. 



The fruits are about four months in ripening ; but they appear and 

 mature the whole year through. In point of fact, however, there are 



THE COCOA TREE. 



