DIMORPHIC BRANCHES OF CACAO. 41 



only the relatively slender oblique or lateral shoots proper to the 

 branches that are formed as members of a whorl. If only one or 

 two of the branches of the first whorl were to survive and to begin 

 branching near the base, the further growth of the tree might come 

 from the development of these whorled branches, the upright tj^pe 

 of the branches falling into comjDlete abeyance. The question of 

 being able to produce at will the desired type of tree appears to turn 

 on the treatment of the young tree at the time it puts out the first 

 or second whorl of branches. 



RELATION OF DIMORPHIC BRANCHES TO THE PRUNING OF CACAO. 



Kecognition of the dimorphism of the branches of the tree is a 

 matter of even more fundamental cultural importance with cacao 

 than with coffee, since it enables us to understand differences in 

 habits of growth that determine the productiveness and even the 

 life of the trees. Much of the advice regarding the pruning of cacao 

 has been given without regard to the dimorphism of the branches, 

 and is misleading, if not actually dangerous. Some writers have 

 recommended the removal of some of the branches of the lowest 

 whorl if the tree begins to branch too 1(!W down, and others have 

 held that only three or four of the whorl branches should be allowed 

 to develop Avhen five or six are produced. In neither case has it 

 been considered that the preliminary treatment might have the effect 

 of a complete alteration of the habits of growth of the tree. 



If the production of whorled branches is to be allow^ed to continue 

 so as to produce trees of the upright, open form, it is very doubtful 

 whether any advantage can be gained by removing a few of the 

 branches of a whorl. The effect is to weaken the basal ring of wood 

 that supports the whorl in its rather precarious position at the end 

 of the long, upright shoot. When the strength of this ring is dimin- 

 ished the weight of the branches is likely to split them apart. More- 

 over, the wood of the cacao tree is so soft that decay is very likely to 

 follow any injury — another reason why any attempts at pruning 

 should be confined to the very youngest stages of the growth of the 

 branches. 



If an attempt i^ to be made to compel the young tree to form its 

 crown from one or two of the whorl branches, it is also very important 

 that these keep the more nearly upright position that they have in 

 their early stages. If pruning be delayed until the whorl has 

 opened out and tlie branches have become nearly horizontal, the 

 chances of having a well-shaped crown are very small. It may also 

 be desirable not to let the branches that are left grow too long. 

 Pinching off the end when they are about a foot long would force 



198 



