84 THE AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY OF CACAO. 



The samples from Grenada, St. Vincent and Demerara were 

 personally selected, whilst those from Trinidad and Nicaragua 

 were given to us and described as very fertile cacao soils by J. H. 

 Hart, Esq , F.L.S., the Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, 

 Trinidad. With the exceptions of the Surinam, Demerara and 

 Trinidad samples, all are of soils arising from the degradation 

 of lavas and volcanic debris, rich in soda lime felspars. As a 

 rule these fertile cacao soils are fairly rich in nitrogen, and 

 contain a somewhat high amount of potash, of which a relatively 

 high proportion was found to be soluble in 1% citric acid solutior 

 whilst the proportion of phosphoric anhydride present appears tc 

 Le of lesser importance. They can, we consider, be safeh 

 regarded as reliable types of the composition of really fertili 

 cacao soils. 



As far as present experience goes in the selection of gooc 

 reliable soils for cacao cultivation, if the physical conditions ant 

 in accordance with those mentioned in a previous paragraph, the 

 most important point chemically is that the soil should contaii 

 an ample supply of available potash, a fair supply of nitrogei 

 and a medium one of , phosphoric anhydride and of lime, am 

 should have either from its chemical composition or its physica; 

 condition a marked retentive power for hygroscopic moisture 

 On soils of this kind large and remunerative crops of cacao ma; : 

 reasonably be expected even during seasons during which 01 

 other lands crops may suffer from drought. 



In order to obtain reliable data as to the composition d 

 cacao grown under fairly favourable conditions at low elevation)' 

 Charles Ross, Esq., of l*ln. Land of Canaan, Demerara Rivei 

 supplied us with a large number of freshly gathered ripe pods r; 

 Cacao of two varieties : 1st, the small podded, thick, smooth 

 skinned variety with fiat beans, known as Calabacillo ; and 2n 

 the large podded somewhat thick rough skinned variety wit 

 falliounded beans, known as " Forastero." The former is th 

 variety agriculturally best suited for heavy lands, being tb 

 hardiest of all varieties, and giving on low lying land, by fa 

 heavier yields of cured Cacao than " Forastero" does. In addf 

 tionrwe obtai.el from him cured beans of these varietie 

 Many 'other varieties are to be found growing in greater or lei 



