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rally called Mader di Cacao) in their walks; which helped greatly to break the force 

 of the wind, and thereby generally preferved their Cacao trees. ' I have, however, 

 feen numbers (c) of them thrive well, without any llielter of this kind ; and bear the 



force of many ftorms without damage : but, probably, they were protected while 



young, and yet too tender to bear any extraordinary (hocks ; for 1 generally obferved 

 them to be planted in a good deep mould, and a warm, well covered fituation. 



Thefe trees grow naturally to a moderate fize ; and feldom exceed fix or feven 

 inches in diameter, or rife above fifteen or fix teen feet in height. 



They are very 



beautiful, and, in general, extremely engaging to the fight, when charged with fruit; 

 which grows from all parts of the trunk, and larger branches, indifcriminately. 

 When the feeds are loofe, and rattle in the pods, they are picked off, opened, and 

 the kernels picked out and expofed daily to the fun, until they are thoroughly 

 cured, and fit for the ftore, or market. 



Thefe feeds are remarkably nouriiTiing, and agreeable to moft people ; which oc- 

 casions them to be now commonly kept in moft houfes in America, as a neceffary 

 part of the provisions of the family: they are generally ground or pounded very fine, 

 at leifure hours; and made into parte, to be the more in readinefs upon occafion. 

 It is naturally pretty much charged with oil; but mixes very well with either milk 

 or water, the ufual vehicles with which it is prepared for immediate ufe. It 

 much efleemed in all the fouthern colonies of America ; and well known to make 

 up the principal part of the nourishment of moft of the old people in thofe parts, 

 as well as of a great number of yews. 



The plant is propagated by the feed ; but requires a ^reat deal of care to raife it 



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with fuccefs. It is generally planted and cultivated in the following manner, viz. 

 take a full grown pod, that has lain by fome days; and cut off the top at the point- 

 ed extremity, fo that the feeds may be fully expofed to view : you then bury it two 



thirds, or deeper, in mould, in fome moift and (bady place. In a few days the 

 feeds begin to germinate; and then they ought to be taken out, one by one, and 

 tranfplanted in proper beds : but the mould, to which they are transferred, fhould 

 be rich,"well divided, and free; moift, properly fliaded, and difpofed at proper di- 

 ftances; fo as to leave convenient room for the roots and branches of the trees to 



fpread 



in. 



In each of thefe beds you plant one or two feeds, with the root part 



downwards, fcarcely covering them at the top ; you then moiften the mould gently 

 about them, and cover the bed with fome large leaves, to protect the young budding 

 plants from the more active rays of the fun ; which may be ftill guarded by fome 

 little ambient bulwark, to ward ofTfuch accidents as may happen from heavy rains, 

 or blowing windy weather. They feldom require to be watered after the firft day; 



but, if this mould become neceffary, it mult be done with great tendernefs; and is 

 beft managed, by laying a piece of wet cloth, or fome watered weeds, gently round 

 the young plant ; which, fhould be left there until the earth foaks a furticient quantity 

 of the moifture. But great care mult be taken not to break off" the feed-leaves of the 

 plant, on thofe occafions ; for thefe are only the tender divided lobes of the kernel, 



and the lofs of them would wholly prevent its further growth. 



The plantain- walks afford the moft natural and agreeable (hade for thofe plants, 

 while young; but, as they rife, they (hould be fupplied with a more fubftantial 

 guard, to protect them from the inclemencies of the weather; which ought to be 

 continued until they grow to full perfection, and muft be removed with caution even 

 then. 



(c) There is a fmall open walk at Dx, Tully's, in Mcuntferat, which has ftood for many years 



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