458 



COCOA 



Surinam Amelonado, and occur only occasionally here 

 and there. Two may be mentioned ; they are known 

 by the local names " Caracas " and " Alligator," names 

 which are both equally confusing. 



The "Caracas" variety is an intermediate form 

 between the Amelonado and the Angoleta type. The 

 fruits are short, but longer than those of the Surinam 

 Amelonado ; the furrows are deeper, the surface is a 

 little more warty. The colour is red. The name is 

 very confusing, because this variety, with its flat beans, 

 has nothing to do with the Venezuela Criollo which 



FIG. 138. A Surinam Amelonado with com- 

 paratively deep furrows, resembling the 

 Ecuador Amelonado. 



Fio. 139. Two "bottle-necked" types of 

 Surinam fruits. 



gives the produce known on the market as " Caracas," 

 and stands far away from the finer Forastero varieties 

 cultivated in the coast region of Venezuela near Caracas. 



The " Alligator " variety is more elongate, pointed 

 towards the apex ; the furrows are rather deep ; the 

 colour is red or yellow. According to the form of the 

 fruit it is a Cundeamor type. The name of this type 

 also is not appropriate, because the name " Alligator 

 cocoa " is generally given to the Theobroma pentagona. 



Up till recently no figures were given by the planta- 

 tions to show the average production. Generally the 

 yield per acre was considered to be very high, and 



