198 



gradually ; and that is perhaps one reason why the experiments 

 which some planters tried were unsuccessful. My Department is 

 now trying an experiment with young trees. We have removed 

 the shade from a field of about 2 acres, leaving some wind-breaks, 

 and the first year, at any rate, this was a success, because, con- 

 trary to the expectation of many planters, when the dry season 

 came, none of the trees suffered. In the second year, however, 

 we had a very bad dry season and the trees suffered more or less. 

 Yet planters were very astonished that they were still in good 

 condition. It seems to me that once shade is properly removed, 

 cocoa can be grown in Surinam without shade. 



COCOA CULTIVATION AND GREEN DRESSING. 

 Dr. Francis Watts (Leeward Islands) : The question of the 

 treatment of orchard soils was brought up at the previous Con- 

 ference, when I put forward views urging in substitution for 

 excessive tillage and keeping the land clean in orchards, the 

 adoption of a system of green dressing, or the use of weeds and 

 shrubs for manures. This has all along existed in Dominica. 

 The weeds are allowed to grow, and at intervals these are cut 

 down without materially disturbing the surface soil ; the cuttings 

 are either used as a mulch, or they are treated as a green dressing 

 and bedded in. The crop that has been found most useful so far 

 appears to have been woolly pyrol. I have had some experiments 

 made with other plants, but not to a very great extent. I have 

 recently put forward some analyses which I believe will appear in 

 the next issue of the West bidia Bulletin [Vol. V. pp. 287-8] show- 

 ing the proportion ofmanurial constituents which may be returned 

 to the soil on each cutting. This is very largely practised in 

 Dominica, especially where it is shown that the amount returned is 

 very considerable. I have had occasion at certain times to 

 examine soils. I will take one case, namely, Frenches, where Mr. 

 Scully follows this system of cultivation. Around each tree he 

 keeps a space of about 10 feet perfectly free from weeds; the 

 remainder of the land remains largely unfilled ; the weeds are cut 

 down and either are left as a mulch to find their way into the soil, 

 or are at once dug in. I think it would be wrong to allow the form- 

 ation of anything approaching a permanent grass sod, and perhaps 

 that is the point where I find the greatest conflict of opinion. I 

 think all agree that the surface of the soil must be light, loose, 

 and free — nothing like a definite grass sod. There are some 

 places in Dominica where in cutting down into the soil, one finds 

 the conditions of natural virgin soil : the condition of tilth is 

 maintained thoroughly. The great point is draining. On that 

 subject I may have more to say at a future period. In Dominica 

 it is a recognised method of cultivation, a cheap one, and a very 

 thorough one, and I think it would be found better in practice, and 

 tend to solve some of those difficulties to which Mr. Fawcett has 

 referred,* than keeping the soil absolutely clean. I have seen 



[* W. Indian Bulletin, Vol. II., 1901, page 99. Bulletin of Department of Agricul- 

 ture, Jamaica, Vol I., 1903, page 126. Editor Bull. Dept. Agri., Jamaica.] 



