470 COCOA CHAP. 



plantation cocoa bought by the merchants in the 

 different years. For the cocoa of the small labourers a 

 few cents less is paid per kilogram. 



XVII. BELGIAN CONGO 



Belgian Congo is not yet an important cocoa country, 

 but it may be regarded as promising. 



The climatic conditions are considered to be quite 

 suitable, and the Congo negro is well fitted for agri- 

 cultural work. 



Up till now, however, cocoa has not become a culture 

 of the small proprietors. The negroes are working more 

 in the forest at present, especially in collecting native 

 rubber, a work to which they have been compelled 

 by the Government. But it may be trusted that the 

 Government will start another policy, and encourage 

 the small proprietors to take up different cultures, 

 especially cocoa, and to do it well. 1 



The exports have been : 



Kilog. 



1901 . . . 4,000 



1902 . . . 16,000 



1903 . . - . 89,000 



1904 . . . 231,000 



1905 . . . 195,000 



1906 . . - . 402,000 



Kilog. 



1907 . . . 549,000 



1908 . . . 612,000 



1909 . . . 769,400 



1910 . . . 901,900 



1911 . . . 681,000 



1912 . . . 800,000 



XVIII. CENTRAL AMERICA AND COLOMBIA 



Central America is not only the country where the 

 cocoa has been cultivated for centuries, but several 

 sorts of Theobroma are found there growing wild. 



This is the case with the " Cacao lagarto" (Theobroma 

 pentagona), the " Pataste " (Theobroma bicolor), the 

 Theobroma angustifolium, while also the ordinary 

 cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao) grows wild in many 

 places, though probably not spontaneously, it being 

 probable that in olden times the Indians imported it 

 from South America. 



1 Since this chapter was written, the Government has started this work. 



