12 CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS OF COCOA TREES 



San Thom:6 



The small Portuguese island of San or Sao Thome pos- 

 sesses a perfect climate for cocoa cultivation. It is 

 situated in the Gulf of Guinea immediately north of the 

 Equator, about 160 miles distant from the West Coast 

 of Africa. The annual average rainfall at sea-level is 

 given as 40 in., but it is probably more than double 

 this amount in the hilly districts in the interior of the 

 island where most of the cocoa is grown. Except during 

 a short dry season or gravanha, which generally occurs 

 between July and September, rain falls at fairly frequent 

 intervals all through the year, and the climate is ex- 

 ceedingly moist and oppressive. The temperature ranges 

 between 60° and 80° Fahr. in the so-called cool season, 

 and between 70° and 90° Fahr. in the hot season. 



Tbinidad 



This West Indian island lies between 10° 3' and 10° 50' 

 North latitude. The meteorological observations regis- 

 tered at the Botanical Gardens during thirty-five years 

 show an annual average rainfall of 65' 49 in., but in 

 the wettest districts the rainfall often is as high as 

 100 in. per annum. The mean annual relative humidity 

 is given as 78, taking saturation at 100. At sea-level 

 the mean temperature is 78' 1° Fahr., and ranges from 

 69° to 89° Fahr. According to Olivieri {Treatise on 

 Cacao), the rainy season extends from June to December, 

 the driest months being February, March, and April, 

 and the wettest months July and August. 



Santo Domingo 



Another West Indian island, Santo Domingo, is 

 situated between 17° 37' and 20° North latitude. It is 

 essentially mountainous, but there are numerous large 

 fertile plains between the various ranges. In the plains 

 it is generally hot and moist, the temperature often 

 rising to 96° Fahr., and occasionally even to 100° Fahr. 

 There is a well-marked wet and dry season, rains being 

 most frequent and heaviest in May and June ; the 

 average annual rainfall is 60 in. 



