CHAPTER XXIV 



HOW JOSE FORMED HIS "COCOA" ESTATE 



This is the title of a little brochure published in Trinidad 

 some years ago by an anonymous author. The subject is 

 dealt with in a strong vein of humour which appeals to the 

 Spanish cultivator and to others. The author briefly de- 

 scribes his difficulties and how he overcame them, affording 

 an insight into the methods and practice which existed in 

 bygone years, and also into those of the present day. It is, 

 in fact, the groundwork of the method of modern planters ; 

 and shows the lines on which the cacao labourer has been 

 trained in the past. Although there are a few points which 

 in the opinion of some might be improved, there is, on 

 the whole, a lot of good in it, and as it stands, it is con- 

 sidered a useful record of work as conducted in past years. 

 The old people evidently knew what they were about, and 

 when we remember that some of the largest and finest 

 cacao estates in Trinidad were formed under the methods 

 described by " Jose," it is evident that an amount of success 

 must be credited to them, which compares favourably 

 with that attained by more modern methods. It may be 

 mentioned that a new edition of this brochure has been 

 published in a somewhat modernised form, but it is 

 considered that the older edition has a value of its own. 

 There are some few items in the little essay which would 

 not read well, and some hints which would lose a great 

 deal of their effect if they were written in plainer language. 

 To the cacao planter it is amusing reading, conveying not 

 a little good instruction, and is useful for comparison with 

 more modern writings. This must be my excuse for 

 reproducing at length. It will be desirable, however, for 



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