394 



COCOA 



the estate the payment in cash varies generally between 

 eight and twelve shillings per month, according to the 

 training of the labourer. 



The industry is chiefly in the hands of European 

 Companies. The attempts of the natives to grow cocoa 

 have not yet been a success. 



The young cocoa culture in Kamerun is already 

 much troubled by diseases and enemies. 1 Of fungoid 

 diseases the black rot of pods causes great loss, as is 

 not to be wondered at in a country with so much rain. 



The yearly rainfall amounts to about 4000 mm., 

 divided over the different months as follows : 



A root disease, caused by an unknown root-fungus, 

 is also the cause of damage. Of less importance is the 

 Kamerun witch-broom disease (not to be confounded 

 with the Surinam witch-broom disease) (see Chapter 

 VIIL). 



Of the insects the rind-bug (Sahlbergella singularis) 

 is the worst pest 2 (see Chapter VIIL). Of less im- 

 portance is the borer, Monohammus ruspator. 



Of the rodents the Kamerun hamster (Cricetomys 

 gambianus) is noxious in the fields by eating the seeds 

 of the ripe fruits, and in the nurseries by devouring the 

 seeds before germinating. 



The Kamerun cocoa belongs to the ordinary sorts. 

 The best plantation cocoa, known as " Kamerun," 

 fetches about the same prices as ordinary "Bahia" or 

 fair " San Thome" ; while the inferior Kamerun cocoa, 

 called " Victoria " by the merchants, does not get higher 

 prices than ordinary " Accra." 



It has been suggested that the quality could be 

 much improved by cultivating finer varieties and 



1 Von Faber, Die Krankheiten und Parasiten, etc. 

 2 Busse (Tropenpflanzer, 1905 ; and Bcihefte, October 1906). 



