2^ 



CACAO OE COCOA. 



now plant the JJ'orastero cacao. There are two or three indigenous 

 species found growing wild in the forests of Trinidad, viz., T. Syl- 

 vestris cacao, T. Gidanensis, and another sort. 



There are few, perhaps no agricultural or horticultural pursuits, 

 so delightful (observes Mr. Joseph, in his "History of Trinidad,") 

 as that of the cultivation of the cacao. It is planted in rows, in- 

 tersecting each other at right angles, at the distance of from 

 twelve to fifteen feet, according to the nature of the soil. Tlie 

 tree is not suffered to grow higher than about fifteen feet, and its 

 broad rich foliage, the hues of v^^hich vary from a light green to a 

 dark red, loaded with yellow and dark red pods, which contain the 

 chocolate bean, are beautiful objects ; these alleys are shaded by 

 rows of magnificent trees, called Bois Immortel by the French 

 and Englisli, by the Spaniards the Madre de Cacao. It is the 

 Erythrina umhrosa or arhorea of Linnseus. Like the Bignonia or 

 Pouie, this tree, at particular seasons, throws off its foliage and is 

 covered with blossoms ; those of the Erythrina are of a brilliant 

 red color, justifying its Greek appellation. In this state they are 

 literally dazzling to behold — no object in tlie vegetable world 

 looks more striking than the alleys of a cacao walk shaded by a 

 forest above them of the Bois Immortel. 



I have been obligingly furnished by Mr. W. Purdie, the able 

 Grovernment botanist of Trinidad, with a short essay upon the 

 cultivation of the cacao tree, with which many of the valleys of 

 that island are so beautifully adorned, and which, at one time, 

 poured into that now unfortunate colony so large a stream of 

 wealth. Fortunately the cacao planter of the island has managed 

 to survive the many years of depression under which — like sugar 

 now — the cacao cultivations lingered and sunk, and which, brought 

 the once wealthy planter down to poverty and misery. His pros- 

 pects, however, are gradually improving. 



The opinions put forth by Mr. Purdie, on the subject of which 

 he treats, will be found to run counter to the long-established 

 practice hitherto pursued in the treatment of cacao plantations ; 

 but it must not be forgotten that these are the opinions of a per- 

 son with whom the study of trees, their physiology and functions, 

 has been not merely an amusing science, but an adopted employ- 

 ment, and whose acquirements in this respect, previous to his 

 arrival in the colony, recommended him for selection as the 

 agent to extend through South America (the great cacao region) 

 the investigations of one of the most noted botanical gardens in 

 Europe. 



Mr. Purdie says : — 



" In the present depressed times, it belioves iis to look well into the resomx'.es 

 of our fertile island, particularly as far as any improvement can be suggested 

 capable of averting, at least, a part of the misery and ruin that is hovering 

 over us, and which is too eagerly borne on the lips of all classes of the commu- 

 nity, instead of using our efforts to do what we can to meet the difficulty ; but 

 few seem to inquire whether we make the most of our present means or not, 

 whilst every one rather joins in the cry that sugar fetches little or nothing, and 

 it is no uncommon thing to hear the complaint transferred from sugar to cacao. 



