COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 339 



its delicious aroma. According to Gumella it was 

 superior to that of Caracas and other places ; so much 

 so that the crops were bought and paid for before- 

 hand. 



In the year 1727, however, a terrible "blast"- 

 either a hurricane or a blight spread through the cocoa 

 plantations and complete ruin followed. 



Thirty years later, some Aragonese Capuchin 

 Fathers were successful in their attempt to revive cocoa 

 growing in the island. They imported from the main- 

 land a new kind of cocoa which, though giving a 

 produce of inferior quality, was nevertheless promptly 

 propagated as being hardier. That is the Forastero 

 cocoa at present cultivated in the island. 



Though only two varieties are described the one 

 giving a produce of superior quality but not resistant 

 against diseases, and the other more resistant but 

 giving a produce of inferior quality, it is clear that the 

 varieties are Criollo and Forastero. It is interesting 

 to note that Trinidad imported its Forastero from 

 Venezuela, and doubtless from that part of Venezuela 

 where other districts obtained the Forastero variety, 

 namely, the basin of the Orinoco. 



Whatever the historical facts may be, at the present 

 time no other varieties are cultivated in Trinidad than 

 Forastero varieties, but these are present in a great 

 diversity of forms ; and in the plantations we find all 

 types of Angoleta (called " Forastero " by Hart, Fig. 29), 

 of Cundeamor (Hart's "Trinidad Criollo"), arid of 

 Amelonado (Fig. Ill) mixed. 



Still, the Angoleta and the Cundeamor are prevalent. 



It is often the case in Trinidad, that after being 

 cleared the land is allowed to lie fallow and is planted 

 next year. Generally the distance adopted now is 12 

 to 15 feet (Olivieri recommends 12 to 13 feet on ridges 

 and elevations and 14 feet on flat lands and gentle 

 slopes). Generally speaking, 12 feet will be good on 

 poorer soil, 15 feet on rich soil. In older plantations we 

 find the trees generally closely planted at a distance of 



