137 



and the most, important point consequently is the existence of a consi- 

 derable depth of suitable soil. The tap root usually penetrates to a 

 depth of 1-V to 6ft., and its course must, be unimpeded if the tree is to 

 grow to a heighl and maintain a thriving condition, and in times of 

 drought a deep tap rout enables the tree to draw on the stores of 

 underground moisture. Failure has been observed to happen when 

 the root., after traversing a layer of loam, reached a sandy layer 

 affording only a poor supply of moisture : the disease-resisting power 

 of the tree was diminished, and it fell a victim to a fungus which 

 attacked its bark. The existence of standing water at a depth of 2 ft. 

 has also caused the death of the tree. Soil extending to a depth of 

 4^ to 6 ft. is the best : the presence of stones is immaterial provided 

 that they do not exceed 50 per cent, of the whole soil, and provided 

 that the tap root does not strike against one of them in its descent : 

 the obstruction caused by a large stone would he fatal. On this 

 account the spot where a tree is to lie planted should first he examined 

 with the aid of an iron bar, and any stones likely to interfere with 

 the root should lie removed. Healthy trees will live for 35 years and 

 more, and if properly treated will be serviceable for 20 years. It 

 this preliminary testing is omitted the tree may grow luxuriously 

 for four or five years, and then fail owing to the root reaching a sandy 

 layer or striking on a stone. Thus for a safe system of cultivation 

 the preparation of holes for the plants is absolutely necessary. 



Owing to the looseness of the Samoan soil, when planting cocoa. 

 cither as seed or as young plants, it must be well compressed by 

 treading to prevent any subsequent sinking in of the soil, which 

 would be injurious to the young plants. H. les should be dug about 

 2 ft. deep, and the subsoil' should then be further explored with an 

 iron rod of 1^ in. to 2 in. thickness. In planting out the young trees 

 from the nursery, care must be taken that the tap root is not bent or 

 cracked. But little care has been bestowed on this in Samoa, and 

 thousands of trees can be seen which have suffered in consequence, 

 the roots having been pressed into the planting hole, and the taproot, 

 instead of going straight down, has been bent into a curling shape 

 or at right angles. This has happened when the planting has been 

 left to unskilled natives with inadequate supervision. Plants thus 

 crippled grow well at first, but never make healthy trees or reach 

 full age, and they only yield 40 or 50 per cent, of a full crop. 



The choice of seed for planting is of the greatest importance ; 

 the pods selected should not be over-ripe, and should not come from 

 too young trees nor from diseased ones. Only seed of the best class 

 and free from every fault should be sown. The best variety of cocoa 

 bean to plant is one descended from the trees imported by the German 

 Trading and Planting Company, in 1883 and 1884: it is always 

 known in Samoa as " Criollo," but is quite unlike the " Criollo " of 

 Trinidad, surpassing it in quality: it is also unlike the " Forastero" 

 cocoa. In fruit, nibs and form of tree it most nearly resembles the 

 cocoa in Guatemala and Colombia ; the beans are said to be as good 

 as the best South American, and to fetch at Hamburg ^0 per cent, 

 more than the best cocoa from the Cameroons. The pod is of a dark 

 red colour and about 6| in. long and 3£ in. thick : a smaller form of 

 pod is of a bright red colour, with orange furrows, and is 6 in. long 

 and 2f in. thick. 



