JAMAICA. 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMEOT. 



New Series.] FEBRUARY, 1898. „ ' " 



Part 2. 



COCOA IN TKINIDAD, VENEZUELA AND 

 GRENADA.* 



Notes by a Visitor in January and February, 1897. 



Trinidad. 



General Remarks on Cultivation. 



In the oldest Cocoa growing districts, these estates are situated in 

 the yalleys formed by the ridge of hills running along the north of the 

 Island parallel to the coast. 



The soil in these valleys was said by many planters to be getting ex- 

 hausted, and to be giving poorer crops than some of the newer lands 

 opened up more recently. 



The centre of the Island has been opened up within the last 20 years, 

 and at the present time, there is a great quantity of yovng Cocoa just 

 coming into bearing. 



It is said to be the richest and most productive part of the Island, 

 the Cocoa estates situated here giving a higher return per tree than 

 elsewhere. 



This is a slightly undulating district, and the hills and valleys are 

 clothed with Cocoa trees 



Varieties of Cocoa Grown. — The varieties of Cocoa grown in 

 Trinidad are the Criollo, Forastero and Calabacillo. 



The quality of the Criollo Cocoa is better than that of the Forastero," 

 and the Forastero is again better than the Calabacillo variety. 



Formerly the Criollo Cocoa was grown in Trinidad, but some 100 

 years ago, a blight destroyed nearly all the trees, and these were re- 

 placed by the hardier Forastero variety from the Main, (probably they 

 would come from the district round Carupano). 



The Calabacillo is the commonest kind of Cocoa grown, it is the 

 kardiest variety of tree and gives the largest yield. 



* For general information consult : Cacao, how to grow and how to cure it 

 By Dr. Morris. Price 6d. Published by the Institute of Jamaica. 



* Cacao. By J. H. Hart. Price 5/. Govt. Printing OflBce, Trinidad. See alio 

 S\dUtin 1895 (pages 38, 180) ; 1896 (page 15). 



