20 THE CHOCOLATE-PLANT: 



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"... There are two varieties of the cocoa-tree cultivated in Venez- 

 uela, known as El Criollo and El Trinitario, respectively, the former 

 of which, though not so prolific, nor as early fruiting as the latter, is 

 yet superior to it in size, color, sweetness, and oleaginous properties 

 of the fruit, and in the fact that it always finds ready sale, while the 

 latter is often dull or neglected. The difference in price of the two 

 varieties is also marked, the former being quoted at $28 to $30 per 

 fanega (no pounds), while the latter commands approximately half 

 that price. 



" While coffee can be successfully cultivated under a temperature of 

 60 degrees F., the cocoa-tree, for proper development and remunera- 

 tive crops, requires a temperature of 80 degrees F. ; hence the area of 

 the cocoa belt is comparatively restricted, and the cocoa-planter pre- 

 sumably has not to fear the fierce competition that he has encountered 

 in the cultivation of cotton and coffee. Besides the condition of 

 temperature above stated, this crop needs a moist soil and humid 

 atmosphere; and so the lands along the coast of the Caribbean sea, 

 sloping from the mountain-tops to the shore, bedewed by the ex- 

 halations of the sea and irrigated by the numerous rivulets that 

 course down the valleys, are found to be, in all respects, well adapted 

 to the profitable cultivation of cocoa. And while the lands in the 

 interior possessing facilities for irrigation may be said to be equally 

 as good for the purpose, yet the absence of roads, and the conse- 

 quently difficult transportation of produce on the backs of donkeys 

 over rugged mountain paths, materially reduce the profits on the crop 

 before it reaches the market. 



" A cocoa plantation is set in quite the same manner as an apple- 

 orchard, except that the young stalks may be transplanted from the 

 nursery after two months' growth. No preparation of the soil is deemed 

 necessary, and no manures are applied. The young trees are planted 

 about fifteen feet equidistant, which will accommodate two hundred 

 trees to the acre. Between rows, and at like spaces, are planted rows 

 of the Bucare, a tree of rapid growth, that serves to shade the soil 

 as well as to shield the young trees from the torrid sun. Small per- 

 manent trenches must be maintained from tree to tree throughout the 

 entire length of the rows, so that, at least once in the week, the stream, 



