COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 405 



are no longer of importance ; in 1909 only 30,050 kilo- 

 grams were exported. 1 



In Java the decay of the coffee culture was the 

 direct cause of the starting of cocoa-growing. When, 

 about 1880, the coffee plantations began to decline, 

 in consequence of the ravages of the leaf-disease 

 (Hemileia vastatrix), the first trials were made in 

 Middle Java, near Salatiga, to plant cocoa in the old 

 coffee fields. This seemed to be a success, and since that 

 time cocoa has been planted in fields of Coffea arabica 

 and of Coffea liberica in several plantations in Middle 

 and East Java. 



At present cocoa plantations are to be found 

 principally in the regencies of Semarang, Solo, Peka- 

 longan, Kediri, Pasoeroean (in the southern part), and 

 Besoeki. They are scattered over these regions, and 

 are mostly situated on the slopes of mountains at an 

 altitude of 500 to 1800 feet; a few are situated on a 

 lower altitude, near the sea-coast. 



The conditions of soil, temperature, and rainfall are 

 widely different in the several districts of Middle and 

 East Java, and this accounts for the fact that the methods 

 of cultivation show little uniformity. 



As regards rainfall, an east monsoon the dry season, 

 and a west monsoon the wet season, can be dis- 

 tinguished. The east monsoon lasts from May to 

 October ; especially in the months of July, August, and 

 September droughts of several weeks are expected, 

 but the cocoa stands such droughts quite well. 



The following figures of the rainfall on two estates 

 may be given as example : 



1 See Kanierling en Zehntner, " Voorloopig overzicht, etc." (De Indische 

 Natuur, 1901, p. 43). 



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