196 



The cocoa trees at Hope and Castleton are of the best kinds, and 

 the seeds for sowing are carefully selected, so that planters may be cer- 

 tain of having good trees. 



Instructions. — In supplying cocoa plants to small settlers, leaflets 

 are given with full directions for cultivating and curing, and this teach- 

 ing is sun ; )lemented by practical demonstrations by the Travelling In- 

 structor. While the export of cocoa has increased this year by 30 per 

 cent, the value has increased nearly 50 per cent. 



Investigations. — M<^srs. Rowntree, cocoa manufacturers of York, 

 England, have leased an estate in the island, and have sent out a chem- 

 ist to study the process of curing on the spot. It is to be hoped that 

 these scientific investigations may be published for the benefit of cocoa 

 planters, and supplement the good work already done by Prof. Harrison 

 and Mr. Jenman in Demerara.* 



Coffee. 



Arabian Coffee. (Coffea arabica). — There is considerable demand 

 for seedlings of Arabian or common coffee, and there appears to be no 

 good reason why these should not be supplied by the Department as 

 well as any other plant. The proper place to raise these plants is in 

 the Hill Gardens ; they grow very much more slowly than at Hope, 

 but they are of much stronger constitution, and the loss in planting out 

 should not be nearly so great as in dealing with those grown at lower 

 levels. 



Experiments in manures for coffee ought to be carried out at the 

 Hill Gardens, but there is not sufficient money voted for either growing 

 seedlings or testing manures. 



At Hope Gardens a small plantation has been made, rather for the 

 purpose of training the Industrial School boys than for experiment. 

 But it will be useful in comparing the different mode of growth from 

 coffee grown at an elevation of 4,000 feet and also the different treat- 

 ment necessary in topping, pruning, etc. 



Liberian Coffee. (C. liberica). — The Liberian Coffee at Castleton 

 has, as usual, borne well, and a large number of young plants were 

 raised. The trees at Hope have produced an abundant crop, and the 

 young trees have improved since the shade has been lessened, and more 

 water supplied. 



Berries in the cherry were supplied to Messrs. Lascelles, de Mer- 

 cado & Co., for the purposes of trying their ordinary machinery with 

 Liberian, and testing the value of the coffee on the New York market. 

 From the sample received it was evident that the machinery had not 

 been set quite right, or was not perfectly adapted for it. The beans, 

 moreover, had not been picked over nor sized. These imperfections 

 would affect the price. The following letter with reference to the price 

 obtainable on the market will be of interest. 



* Bulletin, March, 1898, page 40. 



