76 



nufacture," says Edwards, " under the heavy 

 hand of ministerial exaction." 



The produce of one tree in Jamaica was 

 generally estimated at about twenty pounds 

 of nuts. The produce per acre was rated at 

 one thousand pounds per annum, allowing for 

 bad years. 



The chocolate-tree grows to about six 

 feet high before the head spreads out, and 

 it seldom exceeds from sixteen to twenty 

 feet in the whole height, the boughs and 

 branches beautifully extending themselves 

 on every side, resembling the heart cherry- 

 tree, the leaves being much of the same 

 shape. The tree bears leaves, flowers, and 

 fruit, all the year through; but the usual 

 seasons for gathering the fruit are June and 

 December. The flowers spring from the 

 trunk and large branches: they are small, 

 but beautiful, and sometimes pale red, but 

 most commonly of a saffron colour : the pods 

 are oval and pointed, and contain from ten 

 to thirty nuts each, almost like almonds, 

 adhering to one another by soft filaments, 

 and enclosed in a white pulpy substance, 

 soft and sweet, which some persons suck 

 when they take them out of the shells. 

 The pods change from green to a yellowish 

 colour when they reach to their maturity. 



