20 CACAO 



value as a distinction, it having been frequently proved 

 that a red pod will produce trees bearing yellow pods, and 

 that a yellow pod will produce trees bearing red pods, a 

 fact proved by actual experiment carried out from 1898 to 

 1908 by the Botanical Department of Trinidad. 



The "colour" of the interior of the cacao "bean" 

 when mature and well cured is one of the best indications 

 of its value on the market. Following this is " aroma," 

 which, although fully appreciated by buyers and sellers, 

 cannot be described in writing. Next in order comes 

 " break," which means the appearance of the interior of 

 the bean when cured. When the interior is easily dis- 

 integrated or crumbles easily on pressure, it is said to have 

 a good " break " ; while " cheesiness," or softness and 

 want of friability, is the antithesis of " break," and, when 

 present, lowers the value of a sample, as it shows either a 

 want of careful preparation, careless picking of unripe fruit 

 or inherently bad quality in the class of bean. A good 

 " break," as a rule, follows the depth of colour of the in- 

 terior of the bean, the light being the better, the darker the 

 more inferior, a point which is accentuated by the fact that 

 cacao in recent years is always tested by taking a percent- 

 age of the sample and making a close examination of the 

 interior of the beans by cutting both longitudinal and cross- 

 sections, thus enabling lots to be graded easily in bulk both 

 in store and factory. 



The manner of pollination of cacao is not well known, 

 and studies were instituted by the author at the Govern- 

 ment experiment station some months previous to his 

 retirement in June 1908, with a view to making a complete 

 examination into the means by which it is effected. This 

 study, however, was not complete in full, but the inference 

 to be drawn from observations made is that fertiUsation or 

 pollination is effected by means of several kinds of 

 minute insects. Wright in his work records (p. 23) that 

 Dr. Uzel carried out experiments in Ceylon, which led him 

 to the conclusion that " cacao flowers were pollinated 

 solely by thrips, and that these insects occurred in the 



