COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 377 



are of no less influence, and contribute to the superiority 

 of the Venezuelan cocoa. 



This superiority is very prominent, and even persons 

 wholly ignorant of cocoa commerce and not cocoa experts 

 will notice at once the sweet aroma, in which a slight 

 chocolate taste is already to be recognised, and which is 

 so very different from the sour smell of the ordinary 

 produces, as Carupano and Surinam cocoa. 



Perhaps it is not superfluous to state that the 

 information about using nutmegs in Venezuela to give 

 a special aroma to the produce is quite erroneous. This 

 spice is never used for this purpose. 



The very finest brands of Venezuelan Criollo are 

 sold directly to the well-known French and Swiss 

 chocolate manufacturers. They take a distinct place in 

 commerce, and the very high prices paid for them are 

 not subject to fluctuations of the market as those of 

 other Venezuelan cocoas ("Caracas " and " Carupano "). 



VII. SAN DOMINGO 1 



The republic of San Domingo, though a part of the 

 same island (Haiti) as the republic of Haiti, exhibits 

 quite another development of its cocoa culture. 



Though also in this republic the economic conditions 

 are not as they could and should be, the influence of 

 the United States, who control the money market, 

 makes the economic conditions in this republic more 

 stable. A regular and rapid extension of the culture 

 and increase of the exports are noticeable. 



While the republic of Haiti is one of the oldest 

 cocoa-growing countries, San Domingo has only become 

 important in the last half of the nineteenth century, 

 but during the last twenty years it has rapidly outgrown 

 its sister republic, as is shown by the following figures of 

 the exports : 



1 It is as difficult to get particulars about San Domingo as about Haiti. 

 Through the kind help of Mr. A. A. Boom, Assistant Superintendent of the 

 Royal Dutch West India Mail, I am able to give a few particulars about San 

 Domingo. 



