The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-07-07
Cocoa Plantation In the West Indies.

Nothing is more surprising to those
who know the West Indies than that so
| few should visit those beautiful islands
for pleasure. Their varied loveliness
would we'll repay tourist for little in
convenience from heat and mosquitoes,
| and . short voyage, which, under ordin
ary circumstances, is even enjoyable
| The wild, richly-wooded mountain seen.
cry is magnificent, the soft green of the
| cane fields lovely; but surprising both
| is ihe beauty of a cocoa plantation. Dur.
some time en- one; it was in the noun.
tains, several hundred feet above the
level of tn sea.
The climate was quite European, the
thermometer seldom rising above seven
ty-six, and very often steady at seventy.
had heard much OF the beauty Of this
estate, but it quite surpassed my expec-
tations. The view from the house was
charming. In the distance the deep blue
sea, in the valley below the groves OF
cocoa trees interspersed with eocoanut
trees and stately palmlstes; here and
there patch of sugar-canes, then ne
gro hut peeping from the trees; nothing
could be more charming. The immense
varieties of trees planted to shelter the
cocoa renders cocoa estate unusually
interesting ana beautiful, and SO shady
that it is seldom too hot to walk at any
hour Of the day.
The cocoa tree, so often confounded
with the cocoanut tree, is about equal to
Z good sized apple tree; the POD that
encases the Ib al, of which chocolate is
made, is something the shape Of a lemon,
but three times as large and is of deep
orange color-the kind called "Caracoas"
cocoa is SO deep as to be almost red.
The pods grow on the branches and on
Q stem itself, quite down to the ground
rne branches do not grow low, so that in
looking down q cocoa piece of ground,
with thousands Of golden lamps. Any
thing more lovely can not be imagined; |;
it is perfectly unique.
After the pods aie picked they are cut
open with a cutlass; the beans, which
are tightly packed together, and from
orty to eighty in number, are dried in
drawers In the sun, after having gone
through process called "sweatiiig,"
which is being packed close in a barrel
ina covered over. When the cocoa is
thoroughly dried 1t is put into bags, each
containing one hundred and fifty pounds
and shipped.
or the trees planted to shelter the
cocoa / will describe but few. The
X
IN rows; it is splendid evergreen, bear
ing a sweet white blossom. Among the
other very large trees are the bread
,ruit, the shaddock, and the glorious
mango, which is the size of a large horse-
chestnut, and it is thickly covered with
leaves. The fruit is not unlike an egg.
plum in shape, but three times as large,
and of beautiful golden color, streaked
with red. A tree in full bearing is in
iced a sight worth seeing. OF the
mailer trees the orange ranks first in
reauty and lis, fulness.1
1t grows to a considerable size, and
bears at the same time the delicious
,lossom, the ripe fruit, and the unripe
,reen. Next comes the nutmeg, which
., also of considerable size. 1t is thickly
covered with dark green leaves. The
o!ter covering of the nutmeg looks ex.
'ctiy like a large apricot. Whom ripe it
bursts open, disclosing the brown nut
meg covered with network OF mace "
p bright scarlet. 1t is extremely pretty,
aniike any thing else. The Glove tree
,lso fourishes here; 1t is "a large and
pretty tree, covered with clusters and
cloves, which are OF delicate pink and
white, looking like wax.
Another lovely tree Is the Malacca ap-
pie. II Is much larger and more thickly
covered with leaves than an English ap-
lie tree, the leaves shining and Of a very
niddle-sized apple, of a bright rose color,
.nd when the tree is covered with these
me effect is superb; the blossom is also
( beautiful rose color. The fruit Is
tightly astringent and very refreshing.
] could describe an endless number of
trees, shrubs and plants which flourish
IA this favored cline, but will only add
lew growing here. Roses of the sweet
st Kind in profusion, white jasmine,
ieliotrope, trees of Cape jasmine, verbe-
um, oleander; all kinds Of vegetables
potatoes, pears, French beans, cabbage,
arrots, and turnips.