Specific 



Description 



of 



T. Cacao 



CACAO 



T. Cacao, L. — Leaves oblong, acuminate glabrotw, quite 

 entire ; flowers fascicled ; pericarp ovid-oblong 10 cosiate. 

 Calyx rose-coloured ; segments lanceolate, acuminate, ex- 

 ceeding the yellowish ooroUa ; pericarp yellow or reddish, 

 leathery, 6 to 8 in. long. Habitat, Trinidad— De Schach. 

 Naturalised in Jamaica. Dist. St. Lnoia. Anderson. 

 (Guiana and Brazil.) 



The species known as Theobroma cacao, covers innumer- 

 able varieties or forms, differing in shape of pods, in size 

 and vitality of trees, in bearing capacity, and in colour, 

 shape and quality of the bean. The many names under 

 which varieties of this tree (Theobroma cacao) are known, 

 do not constitute species, but must be merely considered 

 as varieties of one species. These varieties probably owe 

 their origin to seed variation and cross-breeding, together 

 with the local influence of soil and climate, but it would 

 serve no useful purpose to record names by which they are 

 known, as these differ in each district, in each plantation, 

 and in each country where they are grown. 



Sir Daniel Morris in " Cacao and How to Cure it " (1882) 

 made two classes only of the varieties of Theobroma cacao, 

 Criollo and Forastero. In the author's " Cacao " (1900) 

 three classes were noted, Criollo, Forastero and Calabacillo. 

 But in the light of experience gained in the cultivation of 

 Venezuelan and Nicaraguan varieties, these are now added 

 to the list, under the Class I., as follows : 



THEOBROMA CACAO 



CLASS I. CRIOLLO. 

 TsmiDAD Cbioixo. 



(1) Var. a. AmarilIo= Yellow, thin-skinned, bottle-necked. 



(2) „ 6. Colorado =Red, thin-skinned, bottle-necked. 



Vbkbzublan Cbiollo. 



(3) Var. a. Amarillo= Yellow, thick-skinned, high-shouldered, sometimes 



pointed. 



(4) „ 5. Colorado=Eed, thick-skinned, high-shouldered, sometimes 



pointed. 



NiOABAOXTAN CeIOLLO. 



(5) Var. o. Amarillo=Yellow"\ Thick-skinned, high-shouldered, and very 



(6) „ 6. Colorado = Red / large beans with light-coloured interior. 



CLASS II. FORASTERO. 



(7) Var. a. Cundeamor veraguso Amarillo = Yellow- warted, 



(8) „ 6. „ „ Colorado = Red-warted. 



