36 COCOA AND CHOCOLATE 



say whether it pays to form an estate of budded cacao 

 in preference to using seedlings. 



There are no longer any mystic rites performed 

 before planting. In the old days it was the custom to 

 solemnize the planting, for example, by sacrificing a 

 cacao-coloured dog (see Bancroft's A T ative Races of the 

 Pacific States.) 



Shade : Temporary and Permanent. 



When the seeds are planted, such small plants as 

 cassava, chillies, pigeon peas and the like are planted 

 with them. The object of planting these is to afford 

 the young cacao plant shelter from the sun, and to 

 keep the ground in good condition. Incidentally the 

 planter obtains cassava (which gives tapioca), red 

 peppers, etc., as a " catch crop " whilst he is waiting 

 for the cacao tree to begin to yield. Bananas and, plan- 

 tains are planted with the same object, and these are 

 allowed to remain for a longer period. Such is the 

 rapidity of plant growth in the tropics that in three or 

 four years the cacao tree is taller than a man, and begins 

 to bear fruit in its fourth or fifth year. Now it is agreed 

 that, as with men, the cacao tree needs protection in its 

 youth, but whether it needs shade trees when it is fully 

 grown is one of the controverted questions. When the 

 planter is sitting after his day's work is done, and no 

 fresh topic comes to his mind, he often re-opens the 

 discussion on the question of shade. The idea that 

 cacao trees need shade is a very ancient one, as is 

 shown in a very old drawing (possibly the oldest draw- 

 ing of cacao extant) beneath which it is written : "Of 

 the tree which bears cacao, which is money, and how 

 the Indians obtained fire with two pieces of wood." 

 In this drawing you will observe how lovingly the shade 

 tree shelters the cacao. The intention in using shade 

 is to imitate the natural forest conditions in which the 

 wild cacao grew. Sometimes w r hen clearing the forest 

 certain large trees are left standing, but more frequently 

 and with better judgment, chosen kinds are planted. 



