CHAPTER III 



CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS OF COCOA TREES 



A REVIEW of the climatic conditions obtaining in some 

 of the most important cocoa-producing countries will 

 best enable us to understand the cocoa tree's require- 

 ments in this respect. 



Brazil 



The largest cocoa-producing country is Brazil, which 

 contributes more than 16 per cent, of the world's cocoa 

 supply ; more than 80 per cent, of Brazilian cocoa being 

 produced in the province of Bahia. San Salvador, the 

 capital of Bahia, is situated in 13° South latitude and 

 30° 20' West longitude. The average temperature of 

 Bahia is given as 76° Fahr. In the interior of this 

 province an average annual rainfall of 58 in. is obtained, 

 while that of the district in which the town of Bahia 

 is situated is 80 ins. 



Ecuador 



The second largest cocoa-producing country, Ecuador, 

 is traversed by the Equator. Cocoa is principally grown 

 in the lower coast region. In Guayaquil, which is prob- 

 ably the most important cocoa district, the thermometric 

 mean is 83° Fahr. 



The rainy season extends from December to May, 

 with a brief period of dry weather shortly after the 

 December solstice ; a little rainy season occurring after 

 the September equinox. 



In the cocoa-growing districts the climate is generally 

 hot and moist, and has been described as resembling 

 the " steaming atmosphere of the carboniferous period." 

 At Quito the average annual rainfall is reported to be 

 40 in., but as much as 78 in. falls in the Amazon valley. 



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