Science, Art, And The Drama.

Science , Art , and the Drama .

CACAO CULTURE IN ECUADOR . The history of Ecuador does not record when the cacao plant was introduced into the country , but it is stated that the production , in 1741 , was from 35 , 000 to 40 , 000 " cargas " of Silbs . each . It is believed that cacao came originally from Mexico , where it was cultured by the Aztecs long prior to the Spanish " conquest . " In Mexico it was called " cacari , " or " ciscxra quahuik , " and the product was called " chocolak , " from which the word

chocolate is derived . It is produced in five provinces of the coast of Ecuador , Los Rios , El Oro , Guayas , Manavi , and Esmeraldas . The soil best adapted for cacao plantations is one that is deep and moist , the root of the tree growing vertically downward to a considerable depth . Silicious clay is especially preferred , on account of the phosphoric acid and potash required by the bean . Banks of navigable rivers are selected generally because of

the transportation facilities , but important plantations are found at considerable distances from waterways . Cacao is planted from fresh seeds . Four or five are put in each hole , which are five yards apart , in rows . Formerly they were two or three yards apart , but experience has shown that this method does not give the plant sufficient air , light , and nourishment . The United States Consul-General at Guaquil , says that the cultivation of

cacao in Ecuador is limited to caring for the plant until itj'eaches maturity , then cleaning and weeding once a year . In the first few years the p lant is pruned occasionally in order that it may " run to fruit" more quickly . Manures have never been used , even when the ground has been cultivated over a century , and no irrigation is practised . Tbe sediment , spread over the lands by the rains during the rainy season ,

and the decaying vegetation , appear to afford sufficient nutriment . In some haciendas , however , the proprietors pile up leaves and other vegetable matter found in the vicinity of the tree at its foot , and also rub down the bark with a coarse cloth to destroy the adhering parasites . In the primitive manner in which it is grown and harvested , cacao yields a good return on the capital invested , but if scientific methods were adopted , there is no

doubt that the increase in production would be large . In the sixth or seventh year , the tree commences to bear , but the pods at this time are very small and scarcely repay the efforts to gather them . In the 10 th year the tree reaches full maturity . It then produces , on an average , 1 lb . of dry cocoa of good quality . There are many trees which produce more , especially those which are isolated , some of which have yielded at one picking as much

as 7 or 8 lbs . In the province of Oro ( Machala ) , i . i to 2 lbs . per tree is the estimated y ield . The tree is in bloom during the entire year , but most of the blossoms fall before fructification , which occurs twice a year , the time varying with the locality . The cacao tree grows to a height of 20 or 30 feet ; its leaves are evergreen and lanceolated in form j the base of the main trunk attains a thickness of eight to 10 inches ; the bark is

hard and of a greenish coffee colour . The blossom is very small , pinkish white and wax-like in appearance . It grows directly out of the main trunk and branches . If it fructifies , the petals fall off , and from the stamens , in the course of from 50 to 70 days , an oblong pod is developed . This pod is of golden colour , and contains some 20 to 35 grains of cacao , enveloped in a gummy liquid , which coagulates on exposure to air . The outer rind of this pod is dark or golden yellow

in colour , and very hard , a sharp instrument betng necessary to cut it open . Its size varies according to the kind of cacao—from S to 15 inches long , by 2 to 5 inches thick . The outer rind is marked by longitudinal furrows , more or less pronounced , which indicate the interior arrangement of the seeds . Both the outer rind and the gummy contents of the pod are porous , and blacken in colour as soon as picked , and in Ecuador are of use only to fertilise the soil upon which they are cast . ( To be continued . )

Pietro Torregiano.

PIETRO TORREGIANO .

Henry VIII . was a great encourager of the fine arts , and had several artists of note in his service . The superb tomb of his father , says Stowe , was not finished till the eleventh year of this king , 1519 , It was made , adds the same author , by one Peter , a painter of Florence , for which he received a thousand pounds for the whole stuff and workmanship . This Peter that is mentioned was Pietro Torregiano , a valuable sculptor . That he was here

in the preceding year appears by a book of acts , orders , decrees , and records of the Court of Requests , printed in 1592 , in quarto , where it is said that in a cause between two Florentine merchants , Peter de Bardi and Bernard Cavaleants , heard before the counsel at Greenwich , Master Peter Totrfgiano , a Florentine sculptor , was one of the witnesses . Vadari says that Torregiano , having made several figures in marble and small brass ,

which were in the town hall at Florence , and drawn many things with spirit and a good manner in competition with Michael Angelo ( and consequently could be no despicable performer ) , was carried into England by some merchants , and entertained in the king ' s service , for whom he executed variety of works in marble , brass , and wood , in concurrence with other masters of this country , over all whom he was

allowed the superiority . In the life of Benvenuto Cellini is further evidence of Torrigiano ' s being employed in England , and of his disputes with Michael Angelo . When Cellini was 17 he says there arrived at Florence a sculptor called Pietro Torrtgiano , who came from England , where he had resided many years ; this artist much frequenting Cellini's master , told the former that having a great work of bronze to execute for the King of

England he was come to engage as many youths as he could to assist him ; and that Cellini , being rather a sculptor than a graver , Torregiano offered to make his fortune if he would accompany him to London . He was , adds Cellini , of a noble presence , bold , and with the air of a great soldier rather than of a statuary , his admirable gestures , sonorous voice , and the action of

his brow , striking with amazement , and every day he talked of his brave treatment of the English . But as much struck as Cellini was with this lofty behaviour to us savages , as he called us , he took an aversion to his new master , on the latter boasting of a blow in the face that he had given to the divine Michael Angelo with his fist , the marks of which he would carry to

Pietro Torregiano.

his grave . Others say that this event happened in the palace of the Cardinal tic Medici , Torregiano being jealous of the superior honours paid to Michael Angelo , whose nose was flattened by the blow . The aggressor fled and entered into the army , where he obtained a captain ' s commission ,

but being soon disgusted with that life , he retired to Florence , and from thence came to England . To Torregiano is likewise ascribed the tomb of Margaret Countess of Richmond , the mother of Henry VII ., and that of Dr . Young , Master of the Rolls , in the Chapel at the Rolls , in Chancerylane . ( To be continued . )

St. James's Theatre.

ST . JAMES'S THEATRE .

A romantic play , entitled " Rupert ot Hentziu , " is now being enacted at the above theatre . The author is Anthony Hope , who has given a sequel to " The Prisoner of Zenda , " which piece , when it was produced some time ago , was so favourably received by the general public . To clearly understand the sequel , it is necessary that the " Prisoner of Zenda" should be seen . In both pieces , the burden of the dramatic interest is on the shoulders

of Mr . George Alexander , who is thoroughly competent to undertake the dual character he has to play . In " Rupert of Hentzau , " the action is supposed to commence three years after that of " The Prisoner of Zenda " ends , and shows , in an elaborate manner , the details of a scheme by which " Rupert of Hentzau , " desirous of reinstating himself in the king ' s favour and thereby to regain his confiscated estates , manages to obtain possession

of a letter , written by Queen Flavia to Rassendyll , in which , while renouncing , for the future , any communication with him , she confesses her love . As , however , it is impossible for us to enter into the manner the plot is worked out , we would heartily commend a visit to the theatre . Mr . Geo . Alexander , _ whilst bringing into due prominence the romantic incidents in which he is engaged , with a wise discretion refrains from exaggerating them . Queen Flavb , in the hands of the rising young actress , Miss Fay Davis

becomes highly interesting . Mr . H . B . Irving , who enacts the title role , " Rupert , " shows the villainous side of the character he undertakes , in such a manner that we cannot but admire its boldness and coolness . As the old soldier , Col . Sapt , Mr . W . H . Vernon has the opportunity of snowing his great artistic skill . To the characters of Fritz von Tarlenheim , Lieut , von Bernenstein , and Baron von Diekerk , full justice is rendered by Messrs . Esmond , Brough , and Hawtrey . Miss Julie Opp plays with force as Rosa Holf .

THR GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC . The programme presented on ( he 14 th inst . at the students' concert , though not long , contained some excellent items . A pianoforte duet , Symphonic , Op . 14 , by Greig , was performed by Miss Ada A . Harker and Miss Emily Maude Savage , and won well-deserved applause . The violin and pianoforte duet , Sonata in A Major , by Brahms , was another interesting

feature , the artists being Miss Nellie Ridding ( violin ) , and Miss Lottie Lewis ( piano . ) Mr . John Hildreth contributed Hermann Klein ' s " The Voice . " A pianoforte solo from one of Liszt ' s rhapsodies was given by Miss Dorothy Kaufmann , and recitations from Tennyson and Turner were ably delivered by Mr . James McGregor . The accompanist was Miss Kate Augusta Davies .

GENERAL NOTES . It may be within the recollection of some of our readers , that the crocodile from the Nile , called " Rhadamanthus , " escaped from its tank and took up its quarters , some two years ago , in the Thames , where it caused great excitement amongst the water-side residents . This animal has lately been presented to the Zoo by Mr . Rupert D'Oyley Carte , who , in a letter to Mr . Clarence Bartlett , the superintendent of the Gardens , has given a

complete history of the beast . The following is an abstract : " About two years ago , what I believe to be a young African crocodile , was brought to me in London by a member of one of my father ' s travelling companies , then appearing in Johannesberg and Cape Town . It was stated to have been taken on the Zambesi River , when quite small , by an officer of a gunboat patrolling the river . When it was brought to me in June , 1897 , it was

about one and a half feet in length and very feeble , on account of its not being sufficiently fed . I took it to our house at Weybridge where it soon recovered its health , and was kept first in a fern case and then in a specially made tank in the greenhouse . In the two years that I have had it it has grown over two feet in length , so that it measures at the present time nearly four feet . Before the crocodile was moved to its new tank , that is shortly it

after was brought to us , it escaped into the garden of our house , which is built on an island in the Thames , and thence into the river , where it remained for a whole month in spite of its being observed several times by passers by and a substantial reward being offered for its recapture . Finally it was caught asleep by a local fisherman and returned to us . On account of the animal over-growing its quarters it was decided to despatch it to the Zoo . "

Mr . August Van Biene has written a poem entitled " Majubi Hill , " which he recites nightly after the second act of " The Broken Melody , " for the war funds with great success . The versatile powers of the wellknown musician are ceitainly surprising . * * * * " Cyrano de Bergerac" was evidently a success at Blackpool , the other night , and there is little doubt as to its acceptability to London audiences ,

with Mr . Wyndham and Miss Moore in the leading characters . All who saw Coquelin will want to see his English rival , and those who cannot follow French when spoken on the stage , will also be glad of the opportunity of making Cyrano ' s acquaintance . There will be , of course , much curiosity as to the sort of nose with which Mr . W yndham will endow Cyrano ; but it is believed that it will be nothing more repsllant thai an exaggerated " Roman . "

All true Shakespereans make a point of attending the revivals at present at the L ) ceum . It is for benefactions of this sort that Mr . B-nson is to be thanked by Londoners most heartily . Certain of Shake . peare ' s plays have been frtquently performed in our midst of late ; but for tne reproduction of " Henry V ., " " Richard IL , " and "The Tempest" after long years , Mr , Benson deserves , and should receive , the friendliest recognition .