Nov. 1, 1399.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUBIST. 
347 
The cacao lieaus or keriiels lit- in a fruit some- 
thing like a gherkin about tive inchen long and 
three inches in diameter, and are of a (hirk 
reddish colour ^vhen ripe. Tlic fruit con- 
tains from 1-5 to 25 beans, in regular I'ows, 
with pulpy divisions between them, like a 
water-melon. The kernels are about tlie size, 
shape and colour of almonds, obtuse 
at the end, and contain a fatty or oily matter to 
the extent of one-half their weight. In order to 
make "soluble cacao" as sold in Europe, this 
fatty substance is extracted. 
The beans are planted out at short distances 
in orchards, or in ihe garden surrounding the 
owners dwelling. The tree, in this colony, does 
not attain a great height— usually up to ten feet 
--whereas in its natural soil it groM s up to W feet 
at least. Like cott'ee it bears a fruit in the fourth 
year, and reaches maturity in tlie sixth year. The 
fair annual yield of tree, if not damaged by 
storms or insects, would be about three pint mea- 
sures of beans, which always find a ready sale. 
If all went well, and present prices, more or less, 
were maintained, large profits might accrue to 
the planter, but it rarely happen* (perhaps never) 
during the six months of fruit ripening that losses 
are not sustained by hurricanes, diseases in the 
tree, the depredations of rats and other vermin 
etc. Practically speaking, cacao-planting should 
only be undertaken in this colony by agricultu- 
rists who have spare capital, and can afford to lose 
a crop one year to make up for in it the next, of 
planting to be taken up by hand-to-moutli colo- 
nists who must seek immediate returns. 
In the aspect of a cacao plantation there is no- 
thing especially attractive. The tree itself is not 
pretty. The natives who grow the fruit, usually 
make their own chocolate at home by roasting 
the beans orer a slow fire, and after separating 
them from the hulls (like almond skins, they 
pound them with wet sugar etc. into a paste, 
using a kind of rolling-pin on a concave block of 
wood. The roasted beans should be made into 
chocolate at once, as by exposure to the air they 
lose flavour. Chocolate is often adulterated with 
roasted rice and vily nuts. The roasted Pili nut 
alone has a very agreeable almon taste ; the cacao 
bean itself, in its pure state, is extremely bitter 
and unpalatable. 
In Manila there is a steam power manufac- 
tury which partly supplies the capital with good 
chocolate, and which will receive our 'attention 
in a subsequent article. — Mcmila Times, Oct. 4. 
SELANGOR PLANTFRS' ASSOCIATION. 
The following are parts of minutes of a General 
Meetins; held in tlie Selangor Club, Kuala Lumpur, 
on Saturday 30tli September. Present :— Messrs. 
W, W. Bailey, (Cliairnian) J. D. Toynbee, C. 
Meikle, E. V. Carey, L. Dougal, E. J5. Prior, 
jinerubersof Coniinittee). H. Huttenbach, H. M. 
D.arby, E, V. Kin<;, F. I). Hicks, E, B. Skinner, 
W. Brooke, W. Irvine, A. Barnwell, l'\ Newman, 
A. Cathcart, H. C. Kendle, J. 11. Power, T. S. 
Dumbreck, W. McD. Mitchell and Tom Gibson, 
Hon. Secretary. 
QUIT KENTS ON COFKEK ESTATES. 
Mr. Uouu.M, proposed and Mr- C. MioiKLE 
seconded the following resolution, tvV; :— 
"That in view of the diati-esseri conrlition of coffee 
planting in the State, the Govern nient be asked to 
remit the quit-rent on all blocks of 200 acres and 
upwards until such time as prices improve." Mr. 
Dougal said that the present depressed condition 
of the planting community was only too evident, and 
although it might appear that the question of quit- 
rent was a small matter, still every little helped. 
In approaching Government now and asking for this 
Jjelp we do not forget what QpYemroeot bas ajready 
done for us, such as help rendered to fight the cater- 
pillar pest, remission of export duty and Hospital 
fees etc., but all the same he felt confident that this 
assistance would also be granted us if asked for. 
Mr. Meikle reiterated what Mr. Dongal had said 
as to the present depressed state of planting and 
assistance already rendered by Government to the 
planters, and also thought our request would be 
granted. 
Mr. HuTTKNBAcn said he would be only too glad 
if Government could be induced to let us off the 
quit-rent altogether, but was afraid they would not 
do so, and he would suggest that we ask Government 
to let the quit-rent remain in arrears, making the 
debt a first charge on the Estate, and when times 
improve the amount due could be paid up without 
inconvenience. 
Mr. DcuGAL said he thought it would be most ob- 
jectionable to have a debt such as this hanging on 
our heads. 
Mr. Hicks suggested as an amendment that Gov- 
ernment be asked to remit the quit-rent on the un- 
opened portions of Estates until better times. 
The Chairman said he was glad to see that the 
general feeling was that we should not ask too much j 
he was also certain that Government would not 
care to keep a debt hanging over us, but the amend- 
ment seemed to meet the case admirably. 
Mr. Meikle proposed and Mr. Nk hoIjAs seconded 
the following resolution, viz.: — ''That the attention 
of Government be again drawn to the unsatisfactory 
condition of the coconut trees in the Kuala Lumpur 
and other districts where the I'avages Qi beetels are still 
very marked — where insufficient steps are being taken 
to keep this pest in check and that Govfirument be 
asked to see that the Coconut Trees Preservation 
Ordinance be more rigorously enforced." Mr. Meikle 
said that for the present coffee had gone to the bad 
and coconuts were looked upon by many as a safe 
investment, and a good deal of capital was being 
sunk in planting coconuts in Selaugor 
Mr. Nicholas said he had much pleasure in second- 
ing Mr. Meikle's resolution and agreed with all he had 
said as to the unsatisfactory way in wliich the Ordi- 
nance had been carried out. 
THE CCOLIES QUESTION, 
The next point to be considered was a resolution 
proposed by Mr. Huttenbach as follow. "To cancel 
the agreement which prohibits members of the S P.A. 
from engaging Tamil coolies locally without the 
goodwill and permission of their former empioyera " 
and the Chairman asked Mr. Huttenbach to name 
his seconder. 
Mr. Hicks said he would second it. Mr. Huttenbach 
said the object of the agreement he proposed should 
be cancelled was to protect planters who get their 
coolies from India and to throw obstacles in the 
way of coolies who apply for employment in the 
country and of planters who engage their labour locally. 
Now he had always engaged his coolies locally and 
never had any difficulty in getting all the labour ho 
wanted. It had been suggested that the reason of thia 
was because he was so favourably situated when on the 
Selangor Estate, but even now they come and offer 
themselves at Batu Tiga which is out of the way, un- 
healthy and expensive. 
Mr. Prior said he was surprised to hear any member 
make such a proposal as Mr. Huttenbach had done. 
The agreement, which had been unanimously passed by 
a general meeting only a few months ago, was calcu- 
lated to do a great deal of good and had done good 
and to ask us to cancel it now was asking us to make 
fools of ourselves. 
Mr. Darby agreed with Mr. Prior that the agree- 
ment was much needed and had done good, 
Mr. Dougal said t'ley had all heard Mr. Hntteo- 
bach say that he got all his labour locally and could 
always get more than he required and under the cir- 
cumstances he thought Mr. Huttenbach was very lucky, 
but in his opinion instead of Mr. Huttenbach making 
a boast of this, he thought it was a thing he need not 
be proud of. When coolies know that they will be 
t«keB w bj' m eni|jiloyej,- U thej' ogei' t^eU ^eryj^es 
