INTRODUCTORY. 



T^OUR years ago, a convenient handbook on the pro- 

 duction and use of various preparations of the 

 chocolate plant was published by our firm. The present 

 work is designed to give, with considerably more detail, 

 some of the interesting facts relative to the early history 

 and cultivation of the chocolate tree, as well as a fuller 

 account of its botany -and the chemistry of its products. 

 Since this brochure will doubtless fall into the hands 

 of some who do not have access to the earlier work, we 

 have used with freedom some of the material employed 

 in that; but we hope that these necessary repetitions will 

 increase instead of impair the value of the pages now 

 before the reader. 



We trust that this second treatise may be acceptable to 

 our many friends who gave so warm a welcome to the 

 first. 



WALTER BAKER AND COMPANY. 



DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, 

 1891. 



