77 



which is known by the rattling of the nuts, 

 when the pods are shaken. When gathered, 

 it is usual to lay the pods in heaps to sweat 

 for three or four days before they are opened ; 

 they are then exposed upon mats or skins, 

 to the sun, every day for about a month. 



The cacas-tree is permitted to bear a 

 moderate crop of fruit the fourth year after 

 the seed has been sown : but if the plant is 

 weak, a greater quantity of the blossoms 

 are gathered, in order that it may recover 

 strength. The tree attains it's full perfection 

 in eight years : after that it will continue to 

 produce fruit for thirty years or more, if 

 planted in a good soil ; but it is obnoxious 

 to blights, and shrinks from the first appear- 

 ance of drought. In early times the planters 

 had many superstitious notions concerning 

 this tree, and among others, the appearance 

 of a comet was always considered as fatal to 

 the cacas plantation. Lunan. 



The chocolate-tree was grown in our 

 stoves as early as the year 1739- 



