442 



COCOA 



CHAP. 



brackish water of the river : through the primitive 

 sluices or through holes in the front embankment, often 

 this water comes constantly into their cultivations. 

 But nevertheless the cocoa grows well. 



It must, however, be pointed out that in these 

 places the cocoa is accustomed to grow in a brackish 

 soil from its early infancy. When, however, in a 

 regular, well-drained plantation, well protected against 

 the river-water, brackish water enters accidentally into 

 the cultivation, the cocoa tree, accustomed to grow in 

 a soil with very little salt, begins at once to suffer. 



The rainfall in Surinam amounts to about 2100 

 to 2300 mm. per annum. The average rainfall in the 

 different months for eleven years (1899-1909) was as 

 follows (in millimetres) : 



The months of May and June are always very wet, 

 and in April and July sometimes the rainfall is also 

 heavy ; in August the rainy season gradually ends with 

 a few heavy showers, generally accompanied by thunder- 

 storms and heavy winds, while September and October 

 are dry ; in November rains begin to fall again, and in 

 December the whole vegetation looks fresh, with new 

 leaves as in spring-time. January till April is a very 

 unreliable season. This is the coolest time of the 

 year : the night temperature is sometimes as low as 

 20 C. (68 F.), and the climate in these months is 

 delicious. In the dry season, however, it is generally 

 very hot, the thermometer sometimes indicating 35 C. 

 (95 F.) in the shade. 



In the dry season the shade trees (the so-called 



" Koffiemama " or Erytlirina glauca) drop their leaves 



a useful, habit, resulting in a very little evaporation 



of these trees and an inconsiderable absorption of water 



from the soil by their roots. Another good result is the 



