of German and French buyers. The Continental 
buyers always seek after colour (the same thing rules 
them in their purchases of coffee). The English buyer, 
as a rule, goes for the intrinsic quality and proved 
flavour. The Continental buyer likes large size, the 
shell to be red, inside kernal to be evenly fermented, 
and a light reddish-brown or chocolate colour. It 
may be that these things constitute a certain indic- 
ation of quality. The individual samples shown in 
the Trinidad Court were all well-known marks, and 
produce of estates to which the buyers in the London 
market have established a relative value according 
to their merit. The higher priced ones are lifted 
out of the reach of the Continental buyer by the 
English manufacturers' determination to keep them 
for their own use. With regard to the extraordinary 
and peculiar level to which a number of these estates 
and marks have been kept in price, I may mention 
that the greater proportion is bought by one firm, 
and the only disturbance of these prices is the com- 
petition for a portion of these from the other English 
manufacturers. This competition has been mostly for 
fine qualities, avoiding the too highly fermented samples. 
Of the 48 specimens exhibited, prices realised show 
the buyers' estimation, viz., 94s. to 96s. per cwt. 
On the first 15 samples there was to be observed a 
bloom (like the bloom on the plum) on most of them ; 
this I have always considered an indication of fine 
quality. It may arise from a slight secondary ferment- 
ation, and the superior character of the pulp, dried 
upon the shell, imparting to the cocoa a finer flavour. 
I believe the qualities possessed by the pulp influence 
the flavour of all unwashed cocoa. From Granada we 
had ten samples, from eight small estates, of the best 
character. Considering that their production is the 
next largest to Trinidad of our Colonial growth, it is 
a pity that it was not better represented. Dominica 
sent us a number of very attractive samples, sound in 
condition, mostly washed, and presented a bright pale 
red and red shell. This cocoa is larger and more 
even in 6ize than Granada, but the flavour of the 
part fermented and unfermented is slightly bitter ; hut 
it is evidently worth trying to improve the curing. The 
remaining sample, representing the crop of 1884, 
mixed, fermented, present value about 60s. Jamaica 
cocoa is a very thin bean of poor growth and quality ; 
no care seems to have been taken in its preparation. 
Unless better seed can be planted, there seems no 
hope of any great improvement taking place in its 
production, as the taste and flavour of the nut is 
now very "bitter and acrid." It is apparently the 
most " inferior " of the cocoa trees. Values from 
70s. to 54s. per cwt. 
Barbadoes. — One, red, part fermented, value 6Ps. 
The exhibits from Jamaica, Dominica, and St. 
Vincent, nearly all cocoa that had been washed and 
dried, unfermented, partly fermented, and out 'of the 
whole number perhaps only three fully fermented, did 
not represent the cocoa as delivered in London. I 
have come to the conclusion that the washing pro- 
cess—the contact of water, notwithsanding the at- 
tempted drying-— seems to leave a moisture, which is 
thrown out on the surface of the shell, entirely alter- 
ing its appearance from the bright pale red and red 
samples exhibited, When offered in the market 
here, they present a grey and greyish-red appearance, 
the fruit often being mouldy, the result probably of 
packing ill bulk and transport. 
The exhibit of cocoa butter or fat had a signi- 
ficance and interest on account of its representing 
a new process of manufacturing cocoa, the admixture 
of farina and other substances not being followed, 
and the fat extracted, so that it is likely to largely 
increate the quantity of cocoa used in the manu- 
facture of the prepared article as used by the public. 
It is also valuable for medicinal purposes for making 
ointments, &c, in consequence of its not turning 
rancid. The deliveries of cocoa for consumption — 
say, the 14,000,000 lbs. of 1885— would probably re- 
present in weight over 20,000,000 lbs. of cocoa when 
manufactured. I may mention that, at a cocoa stall, 
we sold pure unadulterated cocoa, the idea being thai 
for the working man it is an important beverage, 
more nutritious and cheaper than the adulterated 
article. 
Coffee. 
The following is from a memorandum given me by 
Mr. H. Pasteur : — The total production of coffee in 
the world is roughly estimated at about 600,000 to 
650,000 tons, of which Brazil alone produces between 
340,000 and 380,000 tons, and Java 60,000 to 90,000 
tons, the proportion of British-grown coffee being 
only about 35.000 tons, of which India contributes 
15,000 to 18,000 tons, Ceylon 10,000 to 12,000 tons, 
and Jamaica 4,000 to 5,000 tons. Although numerically 
very small, the productions of pur Colonies and of 
India occupy the front rank owing to their ex- 
cellence. Nowhere is finer coffee grown than in India 
and Jamaica, and its value, as well as that of Ceylon, 
is firmly established above that of all other kinds, 
even of Mocha, which at one time stood above all 
others. 
Jamaica, — Coffee is grown in almost every one of 
the West India Islands, but Jamaica is the only one 
where the cultivation is carried out on an extensive 
scale, the quantity exported in 1885 amounting to 
80,600 cwt., and occupyiny the third rank in value 
of the products exported from the island. From 
8,000 to 10,000 cwt. are produced annually on plant- 
ations situated on the high lands of the Blue Mountains, 
which have long been known as one of the finest 
coffee-growing districts in the world, thanks to a fine 
rich soil and a favourable climate, combined with all 
the care and intelligence which the means of European 
planters can command. The coffee from those favoured 
localities is all consumed in this country, and realises 
almost the highest prices in the market — say, from 
90s. to 140s. per cwt. The remaining 60,000 to 70,000 
cwt. are grown in various parts of the island ; some 
in the Manchester district is of medium quality and 
well prepared, but the greater portion is cultivated in 
small patches or gardens, by settlers and small pro- 
prietors who do not possess the knowledge or the 
means of preparing their crops properly ; or in the 
low country, where an inferior quality is raised ; 
hence the great difference in prices between "fine 
mountain " and the ordinary Jamaica. The want of 
proper curing establishments, is much felt in many 
parts ; it is probable, too, that the plants are not 
raised from good seed, and that better cultivation 
and manuring are needed. But even this will not 
suffice to ensure the good quality of the crop, unless 
due attention is paid to picking at the right moment, 
and to immediate pulping and thorough drying of the 
parchment. This should ensure the proper colour, but, 
in the absence of the necessary appliances, the planter 
would best consult his interest by sending his parch- 
ment to be peeled, &c, at the nearest works, or better 
still, by shipping in to London for treatment. 
Ordinary Jamaica coffee is now selling here at from 
50s. to 53s. per cwt. and there is every reason to believe 
that, with better care in picking and curing, and with 
quick despatch of the parchment to London, the 
grower might obtain from 10s. to 12s, per cwt. more 
than he does at present. There does not seem to be 
any good reason why, in a country where the highest 
priced coffee i6 grown, the bulk of the production 
should rank on a par with common Brazil, or the 
lowest known qualities. The extensive planting of 
the Liberian variety, which appears to be going on 
in Jamaica and other places, will most probably lead 
to disappointment ; the quality is so poor, so deficient 
in strength and aroma, and so little appreciated in 
the home markets, that any material increase in the 
supply must inevitable lead to a lower range of prices, 
which will fail to repay the outlay. The Jamaica 
plantations appear to have been so far quite free from 
leaf-disease, flies, or other enemies of the coffee tree, 
and there is an abundance of forest lands of proper 
elevation in the St. Ann and Clarendon districts, and 
the northern slopes of the Blue Mountains, suitable 
for extending the cultivation of the finer classes, which 
ought to give handsome returns for the capital so 
invested. 
Of the sixty-nine samples exhibited in the Jamaica 
Court, sixteen are parchment and cherry : nine from 
