COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 311 



of the remaining part one-half is still suitable for the 

 cultivation of cocoa, while only one-quarter of the whole 

 island is considered unfit for agriculture. 



Climate. This comparatively small island contains 

 three regions with very different climates. The 

 northern and north - eastern part possesses a climate 

 with a small rainfall about 1000 mm. (40 in.) and 

 a strongly marked dry season during the months of 

 June, July, August, and September ; in the south and 

 south-west there is much more rain, probably not less 

 than 3000 mm. (120 in.), except near Miguel, where it is 

 a little drier ; and, lastly, the centre of the island, 

 which culminates in the peak of Santa Anna (7000 

 ft.), is a region of a rather high rainfall and a very 

 damp atmosphere. 



Cocoa is cultivated in all three regions, but never above 

 about 2000 ft. In the dry northern and north-eastern 

 part of the island irrigation is necessary, but even then 

 the cocoa often suffers a good deal from drought and 

 has to be densely shaded. On the other hand, this 

 district has the advantage that the product can always 

 be dried in the sun. 



In the south the amount of rainfall suits cocoa much 

 better, but here artificial curing has to be used. 



The Soil. San Thome is of volcanic origin. The 

 rocks contain a little lime and considerable quantities 

 of phosphoric acid and potash, and their slow decom- 

 position produces very fertile soils. In many valleys 

 red or yellow clay is found, but where cocoa is cultivated 

 it is nearly everywhere to a considerable extent mixed 

 with sand. In many places the soil contains humus, 

 sometimes to a depth of one metre (3|- feet). These 

 soils lie principally along protected slopes. In many 

 parts of the island the soil contains numerous large 

 stones ; in these regions cocoa cannot be cultivated, 

 as the stones would first have to be removed, which 

 would be too expensive. 



Sandy soils are rare ; they lie chiefly in the north 

 of the island near the sea and around the town. Cocoa 



