cacao. 245 



between twelve and eighteen months. The planting- season is in 

 July ; the seeds should be taken fresh from a ripe pod. A nursery- 

 is, at the same time, formed for the future supply of those plants 

 which may have not succeeded. 



Previous to the laying-out of a cacao walk, plantain shoots 

 are set throughout, for the benefit of their shade to the young 

 plants ; a crop of maize is also raised, which, with the plantains, 

 assists in defraying the expenses of the first two or three years. 

 Some growers plant the slips of manioc round the young plants ; 

 they afford shade for a year or eighteen months, when the roots 

 are manufactured into cassada cakes, or meal. Slips, or better, 

 seedlings of bois mortel are also planted for the protection of 

 the more mature plants in future years. There are two species 

 of bois mortel, or Madre cle Cacao: the anauco {Erythrina 

 velutina) and the bucare {Erythrina umbrosa) . The Erythrina 

 umbrosa is harder and has a denser foliage than the E. velutina, 

 but the latter is preferred. However, the Umbrosa is preferable 

 wherever the soil is not of the best quality. The cacao tree 

 grows from twenty to thirty feet high ; it begins to bear a few 

 straggling fruits between three and four years, is in full bearing 

 at twelve, and continues to give good returns for a duration of 

 thirty years, after which period it declines. The cacao plant is 

 very delicate, and has, besides, many enemies. The north wind, 

 as also the irregular showers that may fall during the dry season, 

 are injurious to the tree itself, but chiefly to the blossoms and 

 young fruits, which they blight. The healthy growth of the 

 young plants may be arrested by the parasol-ants devouring the 

 tender leaves, or the deer nipping the terminal bud, and even 

 twisting the young tree. It has also an enemy in an insect of 

 the genus Prionites, which lays its eggs on the inner bark, 

 where the larva feeds, destroying the cambium. A species of 

 woodpecker {Bendrocolaptes) , as well as squirrels and surmulots, 

 destroy a large number of pods annually in search of insects, or 

 to feed either upon the sweet acidulated pulp which covers the 

 beans, or upon the beans themselves. The cacao tree is also very 

 liable to become covered with parasites, mosses, and lichens. 



The average yield per acre throughout the island is 600 lbs., 

 or about % lbs. per tree, the maximum being as much as 

 1,080 lbs. per acre, or little more than 3 lbs. per tree. There 

 may be said that there are two regular crops or pickings in 



