CACAO AND ITS CULTIVATION 



43 



done splendid work, but it is desirable that the num- 

 ber of workers should be increased. When the world 

 wakes up to the importance of tropical produce, agri- 

 cultural colleges will be scattered about the tropics, 

 so that every would-be planter can learn his subject 

 on the spot. 



Cutlassing. 



Diseases of the Cacao Tree. 



Take, for example, the case of the diseases of plants. 

 Everyone who takes an interest in the garden knows 

 how destructive the insect pests and vegetable parasites 

 can be. In the tropics their power for destruction is 

 very great, and they are a constant menace to economic 

 products like cacao. The importance of understanding 

 their habits, and of studying methods of keeping them 

 in check, is readily appreciated ; the planter may be 

 ruined by lacking this knowledge. 



