Abstract
THE first annual report on cacao research in 1931 carried out by the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad, has just been published. Founded in 1922, the first years of the life of the College were necessarily occupied in academic duties, and although cacao was included in the scheme for long-range research work in 1927, it was not until 1930, when contributions from the cacao-producing Colonies and some of the manufacturers in Great Britain allowed of the purchase of a small estate and the recruitment of three special research officers, that any large development in this side of the work took place. The report deals with the results of the first year's investigations and it is a tribute to the College that so much fundamental information should have been gained in such a short time. On the botanical side, the problem has been approached from three main aspects, namely, propagation studies, genetical survey and studies of fruitfulness, and it is proposed to continue the work on similar lines in the future. The chemical and ecological section has begun an environmental study of the cacao tree and has carried out a soil survey of the Gran Couva district with a view of determining how soil types and environment affect productivity. Both growers and manufacturers alike should profit from the improved yield and quality in the crops, which there is every hope will result from these investigations. The report, price 1s., may be obtained on application to the Editor of Tropical Agriculture, Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad, British West Indies.
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Researches on Cacao. Nature 131, 580 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/131580b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/131580b0