BOTANY AND NOMENCLATURE. Oy 



It is important that the sense in which the word " Creole"^ 

 is used should be fully understood as we have " CrioUo" as our 

 first variety of Cacao. (Oriollo is Spanish for Creole.) 



If we interpret the words Criollo Cacao as Native Cacao, 

 and Forastero as Foreign Cacao, and Calabash Cacao as Cala- 

 bacillo Cacao, we should have had a better definition of terms, 

 and prevent further misapplication of the word " Criollo." 

 Calabacillo is so named from the resemblance of the pods to one 

 of the forms of the fruit of the Calabash tree {crecentia cujete, L. } 



The late Dr. Trimen in Annual Report Ceylon, 1890, 

 remarks that these names appear to have had their origin in 

 Trinidad, and doubted whether Criollo was " ever really a native 

 plant there" (Trinidad.) 



The misunderstanding of the word Criollo or " Creole" 

 probably led him to this conclusion, for it could not be native or 

 " Creole" if imported into Trinidad unless its naime was imported 

 from South America with it, and if so, it should be known as 

 South American Criollo or S. American .Native Cacao, and not 

 simply Criollo. The word " Trinitario"* is applied on the' 

 " Spanish Main" to the Cacao known as Forastero in Trinidad, 

 and they term it so in contradistinction to their own Criollo. 

 A plant of Trinidad would clearly be Forastero or Foreign in 

 Venezuela, and therefore, their " Trinitario" being a foreign 

 Cacao and supposed to have its origin in Trinidad, would 

 properly be the Criollo of Trinidad, if the word is used in the- 

 correct sense. 



It may be possible, however, that Criollo Cacao is native of 

 both countries. The balance of probability appears to be, that 

 its origin can be traced to South America as indicated by Dr. 

 Trimen. 



In Nicaragua the plantations appeared to the author to 

 consist principally of the Criollo type. The interior of the 

 Nicaraguau bean is commonly white, but where the trees have 

 been planted close to the imported Forastero, there is a most 

 perceptible increase in the colour of the beans, and of this I can 

 bear personal evidence. 



Dr. Trimen repudiated the authenticity of the word Criollo, 

 attached to plants sent him from Trinidad, and calls them 

 Forastero on account of their being dissimilar to " the old Ceylon 



* Dr. CWtteaden in AgriouHural Eeeord, Vol. II., p. Vfl. 



