VARIETIES OF COCOA 73 



does not thrive and its growth is weaker than that of 

 Forastero. Under really favourable conditions, Criollo 

 grows in vigorous trees, with a big stem and a dense 

 foliage system. 



In some countries there are found a few local types of 

 the true Criollo, each with its own characteristics. These 

 are the Venezuela, the Nicaragua (Fig. 23), the Java 

 (Figs. 21, 22), the Ceylon, the Samoa, and the Mada- 

 gascar Criollo. In addition, one sub -variety of the 

 Criollo is known, very different from the typical Criollo. 

 This is the so-called "Porcelaine" variety (Fig. 24). 



All the other varieties of the cocoa plant belong to the 

 Forastero group (Figs. 25-33). This comprises several 

 sub-varieties, which form a series beginning with those 

 which stand nearest to the Criollo (with rather round 

 beans, a warty fruit-surface with deep furrows, yielding 

 a product of very good quality), and ending with the 

 so-called " Calabacillo variety," with very flat beans and 

 a smooth fruit, yielding an inferior kind of cocoa.. 



Local Types and Sub- Variety of Criollo 

 (a) Local Types 



Venezuela Criollo. The fruits of the Venezuela 

 Criollo are medium - sized. Their form is generally 

 plump and asymmetrical. According to Preuss, the 

 typical Venezuela Criollo has a medium-sized, slanting 

 point, curved to the stem of the tree when the fruit is 

 grown at the stem. Towards the stalk the fruit ends 

 more or less abruptly with a broad end, which often 

 stands obliquely to the stalk. Sometimes the shape is 

 so irregular that the fruit gives an impression of being 

 misformed. 1 



In most cases the colour of the fruits of the 

 Venezuela Criollo is red, but a classification has been 

 made into Criollo legitimo, with fruits of a deep red 



1 Preuss, Expedition, p. 225. 



