GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 17 



In Surinam, for instance, the soil is rather poor in 

 humus and very shallow, and the roots cannot go 

 deeper than 1^ to 2 feet. The result is that, in spite 

 of the considerable water-retaining power of the soil, 

 the cocoa sometimes suffers from drought. Fortunately, 

 severe and continuous droughts are rare in this country, 

 and even in the driest months (September and October) 

 an occasional shower generally falls, making the average 

 rainfall in those months about 70 mm. (275 in.). 



Severe droughts, lasting several months, are some- 

 times experienced on some of the cocoa plantations in 

 Java, but here the soil is deeper and generally richer in 

 humus. The cocoa can accordingly have a deep root- 

 system, and this enables the plant to stand the droughts 

 without damage. 



In other countries, again, the rainfall is very small, 

 but the necessary amount of water is supplied by means 

 of irrigation. This is especially the case in the coast 

 region of Venezuela, befrvwen La Guayra and Puerto 

 Cabello. Here the famous Venezuela Criollo is grown 

 in narrow valleys, where the soil is rich in humus, but 

 where the rainfall is estimated to amount to no more 

 than 1200 to 1500 mm. (47 to 59 in.) per annum. 

 Water is supplied mainly by means of a primitive 

 irrigation, the brooks being dammed by little walls of 

 stone and conducted to the cultivation area through 

 open trenches. 



Another country apparently with a small rainfall is 

 San Thome ; but few reliable figures are available. 1 

 The total annual rainfall seems to range between 1000 

 and 2500 mm. (39 and 98 in.), while in the months of 

 June, July and August long droughts may occur. The 

 effect of these, however, is apparently not very serious, 

 principally in consequence of the fact that the sun is 

 not very strong and the sky mostly cloudy. Under 

 other conditions so little rain would be detrimental. 



On the other hand, too much rain can equally be 

 an impediment to successful cocoa-growing. No limit 



1 Chevalier, Le Cacaoyer dans V Quest africain, pp. 27-29. 



C 



