227 
marvellous rapidity, and during the past year 113,239,980 Ib., 
valued at £2,489,218, were exported. 
The farms are owned and cultivated almost exclusively by 
natives. 
Many initial mistakes have been made in the formation of 
plantations and in the preparation of the cocoa, but the spread 
of education amongst the farmers has already effected a con- 
siderable improvement, and the general quality of the product 
becomes yearly better. 
The soil and climatic conditions are well suited for cocoa 
culture. 
Insect pests and fungoid diseases have been the cause of a 
considerable amount of damage to plantations, and are now. 
and must always be, matters of grave concern in a country 
like the Gold Coast; their depredations do not readily dis- 
courage a people who from time immemorial have been accus- 
tomed to shifting rather than permanent cultivations. 
The industry is greatly hampered through want of cheap 
and efficient transport within the Colony. The bulk of the 
transport at present is by means of head-loads, and, in spite of 
a considerable influx of labourers from adjoining territory 
during the harvest season, much difficulty is often experienced 
in getting the cocoa conveyed to the port of shipment. 
This transport is arranged, for the most part, by the mer- 
cantile community who have penetrated the bush and erected 
stores or buying-depots there. 
Railways and roads are being rapidly extended and will in 
time to a great extent alleviate this. 
All sections of the community are interested in cocoa 
culture, and, unless some unforeseen circumstance should 
intervene the exports already great should yet be much greater. 
The following table of exports, at intervals of five years, 
serves to show the rapid and steady development of the 
industry : — 
Cocoa EXPORTED FROM THE GOLD Coast. 
Year Quantity (Jb.) Value (£) bg Sy @ in 
1891 80 4 _ 
1896 86,754 2,276 2,272 
1901 2,195,571 42,837 40, 561 
1996 20,104,504 336,269 293,432 
IQIL 88,987,324 1,813,468 1,277,199 
1913 113,239,980 2,489,218 875,750* 
* Increase in two years only. 
