«5* 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Sept. i, 1894. 
It seemt to me that it lies in the power of this 
Government to give the positive and efficacious 
impulse to this cultivation. 
We already know the influence exercised upon this 
industry by the Botanical Departments of Jamaica 
and Ceylon, and I am convinced that a similar 
impulse could be given here, in Tolima for example 
and in certain parts of Cundinamarca plants of 
approved types would be accepted and appreciated 
in the highest degree, by private enterprise It is 
needless to affirm that the acquisition and distribn 
tion of the seeds of the wild cocoa are points which 
deserve to be taken into serions consideration, of 
coir e it is indispensable that the Government should 
give its attention to the means of securing the seeds 
Of the two great rivals of cor-oa — coffee and tea 
—the last named holds the fir-t place as far as 
popularity is concerned, with ail this it is not a 
criterion of the real merit of any one of these beverages. 
For example it is said upon strong authority that 
the latter, in case of insufficient alimentation weakens 
the body, nor is the following opinion of a noted 
connoisseur of London, in matters of tea encouraging 
to those who drink it. 
" In Ceylon teas of some va'ue, the aroma is the 
principal characteristic so much so that an absen e 
of astringent qualities is noted in them, the contrary 
take3 place with regard to the Indian teas in which 
there is scarcely any »roma and an astriDgent quali- 
ties prevail, which qualities ren 'er it turbid." Coffee 
nnd tea contain the same principles, so that they 
must be placed amongst the costly refreshing drinks. 
Althongh the consumption of coffee and tea exceeds 
that of cocoa, that of the last named is without 
doubt destined to extend on a large scale, with cocoa 
as well as with many other things, it is impossible 
to elude the law, which causes the article which has 
the greatest merit to prevail, because not only is 
cocoa the most exquisite and healthy beverage, but 
the most nutritious. To conclude, cocoa is what the 
great Lineus says— theobroma— that is to say food 
of the gods. Another great authority says, "as an 
article of nutrition cocoa differs both from tea and 
coffee. In the first place only an infusion i-> made 
with these last named, leaving a laTge part of the 
total weight of their substa- ce unconsnmed, on the 
other hand all the substance of the cocoa bean is 
prepared as an emulsion for drinking, and the whole 
is utilized in the system. While the contents of a 
cup of tea or coffee can scarely be looked upon as 
a stimulant, both being deprived of all essential 
nutritive properties, a cup of chocolate besides con- 
taining theobroma, which introduce s into the system 
a by no means small proportion of nitrogenous and 
oleagenous food is one of the most substantial 
nutrimei.ts. 
Cocoa butter is obtained from the beans and its taste, 
color and smell are agreeable, it is used in phar- 
macy, and is employed in France in the manufacture 
of soaps and pomatums, these beans give, more or 
less 50 0/0 of fat. In the same way, those delicious 
confectioneries known to every one are made of cocoa. 
ANALYSIS OF COCOA BY LAYEN. 
Fat, (cocoa butter) 
5200 
Compounds (nitrogenous) 
20-00 
Starch 
1000 
Cellulose 
200 
Theobroma 
2-00 
Saline substances 
400 
Water 
1000 
Essential oil (cocoa red) Traces 
100-00 
£ It is worthy of observation that the consumption 
if cocoa in England has doubled itself in the s; ace 
of 20 years, whilst the consumption of coffee has 
declined ; during the same period the consumption 
of tea increased 30 0/ Since 1860 the consumption 
of this bean has increased six-fold in the United 
States of America;. 
A bo"k on agriculture published in Ceylo , f&vm 
the following approximate figures upon the produc- 
tion of cocoa in the world : — 
Countries. 
Brazil 
Celebes and adjacent Islands 
Ceylon 
Central America 
Trinidad 
Dominica 
Grenada 
Jamaica 
.Sant Domingo . . 
St. Lucia . . . 
St. Vincent 
Ecuador acd Peru 
Venezuela . . , 
Guadeloupe 
French Guiana... , 
Dutch Guiana . . . 
English Guiana 
... 00,000 
8,000 
... 19,0(io 
. . 8.">.UJO 
.. 1 40.000 
2,000 
£0,000 
5,000 
10,000 
3,000 
3,000 
2,000 
30,000 
6,0 JO 
S3,0o0 
200.000 
200,000 
t'/KIO 
38.0 0 
to 0 0 
7 000 
20.000 
5,000 
lOtO 
B7&000 
ITaiti 
Martinique 
Mexico 
I'hilipines 
Reunion 
Total in Quintals 
Another great improvement tending to revi\e and 
extend this interesting cultivation would be to plant 
the trees sufficiently apart, so as to secure the 
vigour and growth of the tree, because nothing has 
contributed so much to the decay of cocoa planta- 
tions, as the pernicious system generally adopted 
in Columbia of planting the trees very near one 
another, 
I am, etc., 
ROBERT THOMSON. 
CEYLON PATENTS. 
The fol owi- g grants of exclusive privilege have 
been granted under the Inventions Ordinance cur- 
ing the half-year ended December 31st, 1893: — 
No. 4118. — Alfred Brown, of Colombo, for improve- 
m-uts in tea rolling machines.— July 8, 1893. 
No. 410 — Samuel Cleland Davidson, of Sirocco 
Works, Belfast, Ireland, merchant, for improvements 
in the manufacti re of byfurcated rivets of two- 
pronged U shaped fasteners for leather or other 
6ubstances, and in apparatus therefor. — July 22nd, 
1893. 
No. 412 — Michel John Paul, of 12 Mottague place, 
Russell square, in the couuiy of Mid i tests, England, 
gentleman an invention for improvements in Dis- 
charging coil aid simitar rargo fiom lighttrs .0 
ships or wharves. — August 8, 1893. 
No. 413. — liumphey Aram Hole, tea planter of 
Atgram, Sythet, in Brit's b Ii dia, invention for a t 
improved tea drying and tea withering machine, ai.d 
for improved appliances coLnccted therewith. — Sep- 
tember 16th 1893. 
No. 406.— William Oarey Leechman, of 92, S nc'air 
road, in the country of Middlesex, England, merctiaut, 
an invention for improved preparation of ihe ie<, and 
the process of making the same. — October 24th 1693. 
No. 420.— William Dundas Scott Moncrittf, of 14, 
Victoria street, Westminster, London, England, in. 
gineer, improvements in or relating to tbe treatment 
of seweiage and other contaminate! 1 quids- — Nov- 
ember 17, 1893. 
No. 416. — Joseph Charles Dunbar, of St. Olair estate, 
Talawakele, tea planter, an appliat.ee or method if 
facilitating the withering or drying of tea leaf, cacao, 
tobacco, coconut pulp, or any other snbsUnce which 
it may be neceesjry to wither or dry. — November 30, 
1893. 
No. 407.— Henry Carua Wilson, of 22, Fenchurch 
ttreet, Lotidoo, England, merchant improvements 
relating to the treatment of tea.— November 30, 1893. 
Government Record Office, 
— Gazette. Colombo, August 22, 1894. 
