3 



2. In furtherance of Mr. Fawcett's wishes application was made by this Establishment to a firm 

 of brokers in the City and the enclosed report, with a set of samples, has been received from Messrs 

 Wilson, Smithell & Co. The samples are being forwarded direct to the address of the Director of the 

 Botanical Department, Jamaica, by the outgoing mail. 



3. The Cacao industry in Jamaica has steadily extended of late years. The quantity of Cacao 

 exported has increased fourfold, but the value per cwt. has been almost stationary. In fact it has be- 

 come a matter for serious consideration to the Government of Jamaica how it may be possible to rescue 

 an otherwise promising industry from being crippled by the carelessneas of the small proprietors, (who 

 at present grow the bulk of Jamaica Cacao) in exporting an inferior article. 



4. In an address given at the request of Sir Henry Blake at the late Jamaica Exhibition on Febru- 

 ary 9, I drew particular attention to this subject and pointed out that owing to bad curing Jamaica 

 Cacao was at the bottom of the list of Cacao in the London market and the Island lost yearly on this 

 account about £20,000 to £30,000. Acting on my suggestion then given, the Government has lately 

 taken steps to send intelligent instructors round the Cacao growing Districts to explain carefully to 

 the settlers the way the Cacao should be cured and the Legislative Council has voted a sum of £600 for 

 this purpose. The result of this experiment will be watched with some interest. 



5. As confirming the information placed before the Government of Jamaica it will be noticed that 

 Messrs. Wilson, Smithell & Co., report that the bulk of Jamaica Cacao "is of very ordinary quality" ; 

 the only West Indian Cacao taking rank below it being St. Domingo from Jeremie, " whilst that from 

 Samana in the same Island is superior to Jamaica." 



6. Owing to the facility with which Cacao can be grown under the shade of bananas the extension 

 of Cacao planting in Jamaica should proceed pari passu with that of fruit culture. The little attention, 

 however, so far devoted to properly curing the produce is a matter of grave concern to those interested 

 in the Island and it is to be hoped that the measures now in course of being taken to remedy the defect 

 will produce results of a more hopeful character. * 



I have, &c, 



Edw. Wingtield, Esq., C.B., (Sgd.) D. Morris. 



Colonial Office, Downing St. 



Me»srs. Wilson, Smithell § Co., to Royal Gardens, Kevc. 



41 Mincing Lane, London, E.G., 25th June, 1891. 



Sir, 



We duly received your letter of 11 th instant requesting us to supply for the Government of 

 Jamaica, commercial samples of the various sorts of cured Cacao which come into the London market, 

 and we have much pleasure to advise you that we have despatched four samples the best of the respec- 

 tive kinds to your address, viz : 



No. 1. Fine Ceylon, value 154/ per cwt., from Aloowihare Estate. 



No. 2. Fine Trinidad, value 98/ per cwt., from Locounseo Estate. 



No. 3. Fine Grenada, value 65/ per cwt., from Tufton Hall Estate. 



No. 4. Fine Guayaquil, value 90/ per cwt., from Arrila Prima Estate. 

 We have not included a sample of Caracas as that growth is generally cured in the earth of the country 

 and attempts made in various places to prepare Cacao in that manner have almost invariably ended in 

 a disappointment. A small proportion of Jamaica Cacao imported here has undergone fermentation to 

 a greater or less degree, but the bulk is of very ordinary quality, the only West Indian Cacao taking 

 rank below it being St. Domingo from Jeremie, whilst that from Samana in the same Island is superior 

 to Jamaica. It has however all the characteristics of good Cacao — although wanting in size, and if 

 properly harvested, fermented or sweated, and then dried in the sun until the bean becomes crisp to the 

 feel, so that the shell is fairly loose, and the interior dry and of an even chocolate brown, not violet 

 colour when broken, it should command the general attention of Trade. Great care should be taken to 

 protect it from rain whilst curing. It must be noted that manufacturers can not pay much attention 

 to small parcels, and that to insure a ready sale not much less than a ton weight of even colour and 

 quality should be shipped, the larger the lot the better. 



We are, &c, 



D. Morris, Esq. (Sgd.) Wilson, Smithbi.l & Co. 



REPORT ON POTATOES FROM CANADA GROWN AT CINCHONA. 



The Hon. Adam Brown, Honorary Commissioner for Canada at the Jamaica Exhibition, prosented 

 the Department with several varieties of potatoes These potatoes were sown at the Hill Gardens, 

 Cinchona, elevation 4,900 feet, and the following tables, giving the results, have been prepared by the 

 Superintendent, Mr. Cradwick. 



It will be noticed that the tops first appeared above ground from 12 to 17 days from planting, 

 and that the potatoes were ready for digging in from 68 to 73 days from sowing. The mean tempera- 

 ture during the period was about 62.5° F. ; the total rain was about 8f inches which fell on about 20 

 days. 



I believe that very much better results would be obtained if potatoes were sown in October, or 

 November, during the rainy season ; and larger prices would be received in the markets of Canada and 

 New York in January and February than in May. This experiment cannot be looked upon as doing 

 much more than indicating which varieties are likely to suit a dry season in Jamaica. 



