474 COCOA 



('HAL'. 



the rubber tree (Castilloa elastica), and Myroxylon 

 Pereirae (which yields the balsam of Peru). The Gas- 

 tilloa, however, is regarded with some distrust, because 

 it is said to have a bad influence on the cocoa trees. 



The best plantation, which Preuss saw, was the 

 plantation of Aguna. As contrasted with other so- 

 called plantations in Guatemala, the trees are planted 

 here at regular distances (4 varas = about 3*3 m. or 

 1 1 feet apart) ; they are well cared for and are regularly 

 pruned. Forest trees are left standing for shade. One 

 tree, the so-called " Molinillo," was considered there to 

 be very suitable ; to Preuss, however, it seems to be a 

 little doubtful whether this opinion is right or not ; 

 the growth of this tree is pyramid-shaped, and the 

 branches are arranged in table form, as in the " tropical 

 almond" tree (Terminalia Catappa). 



In this plantation different varieties are grown, of 

 which may be mentioned the red and the yellow 

 Alligator cocoa, " Lagarto Colorado " and " Lagarto 

 amarillo " (Theobroma pentagona), and a variety 

 which is much like the Nicaragua Criollo. 



The fresh beans are put into a wooden box and are 

 left here fermenting for one day. Next day they are 

 spread out into the sun for a few hours, after which 

 they are put again into the box and left fermenting for 

 the rest of the day ; the third day the same operation 

 is done again. Finally, the cocoa is dried in the sun. 



The cocoa is not washed at Aguna, as is otherwise 

 the custom in Guatemala. This may be the reason 

 why the aroma of the Aguna cocoa is stronger than that 

 of other Guatemalan cocoa. 



The production of Guatemala is estimated to be 

 about 200,000 to 300,000 kilograms. About 50,000 

 kilograms are yearly imported from Ecuador. 



Honduras and San Salvador 



These two countries are of little importance as 

 regards cocoa-growing. 



