6 



Description of the Cocoa plantation made by boys of Hope Industrial School under the Superintendence 



of Mr. McNair. 



Land cleared. — Half an acre of land has been cleared and levelled. 



.Cocoa planted. — 105 plants of 5 different varieties of Cocoa have been planted. 



Varieties planted. — Of the Calabacillo variety, 23 plants. Milanado variety, 21. Red Cocoa, 21. 

 Forastero Cocoa, 22. White Cocoa, 18. The first four varieties are from seeds received direct from 

 Mr. Hart of Trinidad; the fifth (white Cocoa) is from our own seeds. 



Shade Plants. — Permanent shade trees have been planted through the plantation. The " Madre 

 di Cacao" (Erythrina umbrosa) the tree ordinarily used as shade for Cocoa, is planted alternately with 

 cedar (Cedrela odorata). 



Temporary shade plants have been planted, the Castor oil (Ricinus communis) being used Four 

 plants of Castor oil to one plant of Cocoa are planted, 18 inches from the Cocoa plant. Bananas are 

 planted one in the centre of each square formed by every four Cocoa plants. 



Watering. — The young plants are being carefully watered by hand, and 22 chains of trenches 

 have been dug so that every time waste water is procurable from the water works, the whole of the 

 land is properly irrigated. It is necessary at Hope to water the plants, on account of the small rain- 

 fall, and dry atmosphere. 



Curing of Cocoa. 



The method of curing adopted was that recommended in Bulletin No. 14 for July, 1889. 



The beans were taken from the pods, and placed to ferment in boxes with holes in the bottom 

 through which the moisture drained out. 



After six days, the beans were taken out, and spread on wooden trays in the sun in a thin layer. 

 Now and then, they were rubbed between the hands, and the refuse removed. At night, or when there 

 was the slightest rain, the Cocoa was placed under cover in the store-room. 



After from four to six days, if the beans break easily, are of a chocolate (not purple) colour with- 

 out any white skin inside, and have a sweet (not bitter) taste, they will be cured. 



The beans were not washed. 



EBONY. 



The name " Ebony" is applied to a black wood, which is hard and heavy. The Ebony of Jamaica 

 and Cuba, (Brya ebenus), which is so common in the Liguanea Plains, in Clarendon, &c, is known in 

 Commerce as " Coccus Wood." 



True Ebony is heavier than water, a cubic foot weighing from 1,100 to 1,330 oz. It is close-grained 

 and takes a high polish. It is chiefly used for inlaying and fancy work, — to make pianoforte keys, &c. 

 The best kind of Ebony is very valuable on account of its maintaining a permanent shape and not 

 warping ; it is therefore used for rules and measures, The price of the timber as imported into 

 England varies from £5 to £20 per ton ; from 700 to 1000 tons are annnally imported. 



Wood of a high specific gravity, close-grained and black, is called Ebony, whatever the tree may be 

 which produces it. It is however, yielded principally by species of Diospyros, natives of the East 

 Indies and tropical Africa. 



Amongst these species is one, Diospyros discolor, Willd, a native of the Philippine Islands, a few 

 plants of which are now ready for distribution. 



This tree grows to about 40 feet high. The wood is at first of a dark flesh colour, becoming in time 

 of an exceedingly deep black colour, very hard and compact. 



The reddish fruit is edible, after removing the skin. 



The tree will probably only succeed well in J amaica, where there is a heavy rainfall, for instance 

 in Portland, St. Mary's and St. Thomas in the East. 



Plants will be delivered in Kingston, at the rate of Id. each. Applications will be dealt with in 

 order of receiving them, — the preference, however, being given to those living in localities where they 

 are most likely to succeed. 



COTTON. 



At the end of last century there were over 100 Cotton Works in the Island, but Sugar was paying 

 so well that Cotton was gradually given up. 



Good Cotton has lately been grown in Turks Island. If any Planter in Jamaica wishes to experi- 

 ment with Cotton, an endeavour will be made to obtain seed from Egypt of a variety which is obtain- 

 ing the highest price in the market. 



Applicants should state what weight of seed he requires. From 71bs. to 10 lbs. of seed is necessary 

 per acre. 



NUTMEGS. 



Several specimens of Nutmegs have been sent from various parts for examination. They had drop- 

 ped from the trees when half grown, or much smaller. 



In ono instance, it seemed that there was defect of fertilisation, owing either to lack of male trees 

 or to scarcity of insocts that carry the pollen. But in most cases, it was clear that there was a want 

 of plant-food in tho soil. The treo could not obtain sufficient nourishment to provide for the full de- 

 velopment of all the Nutmogs, and this food was distributed along various channols in the branches and 

 twigs in greater or leas quantity according to the position of the young fruit. As soon as the point was 

 reached in the stage of development of the Nutmeg, when the supply of food could not meet its require- 

 ments, the young fruits dropped off, thus setting free its food to supply the wants of others. This natural 

 process is somewhat wasteful. Tho crudo food taken up by the plunt is elaborated into the complicated 

 materials of a Nutmeg. When the fruit drops undeveloped, even although by its decay it restores 

 to tho soil the amount of food takon up, yet there has been loss of energy to the plant in the elabora- 



