CACAO CULTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Cacao in cultivation exists nearly everywhere in the Archipelago. I 

 have observed it in several provinces of Luzon, in Mindanao, Jolo, Basi- 

 lan, Panay, and Negros, and have well-verified assurances of its presence 

 in Cebu, Bohol, and Masbate, and it is altogether reasonable to predicate 

 its existence upon all the larger islands anywhere under an elevation of 

 1,000 or possibly 1,200 meters. Nevertheless, in many localities the condi- 

 tion of the plants is such as not to justify the general extension of cacao 

 cultivation into all regions. The presence of cacao in a given locality is 

 an interesting fact, furnishing a useful guide for investigation and agri- 

 cultural experimentation, but, as the purpose of this paper is to deal with 

 cacao growing from a commercial standpoint, it is well to state that 

 wherever reference is made to the growth, requirements, habits, or cul- 

 tural treatment of the plant the commercial aspect is alone considered. 

 As an illustration, attention is called to the statement made elsewhere, 

 that "cacao exacts a minimum temperature of 18"; although, as is per- 

 fectly well known to the writer, its fruit has sometimes matured where 

 the recorded temperatures have fallen as low as 10. There is much to be 

 learned here by experimentation, for as yet the cultivation is primitive in 

 the extreme, pruning of any kind rudimentary or negative, and "treat- 

 ment" of the nut altogether unknown. 



Elsewhere in cacao-producing countries its cultivation has long passed 

 the experimental stage, and the practices that govern the management of 

 a well-ordered cacao plantation are as clearly defined as those of an orange 

 grove in Florida or a vineyard in California. 



In widely scattered localities the close observer will find many young 

 trees that in vigor, color, and general health leave nothing to be desired, 

 but before making final selection for a plantation he should inspect trees 

 of larger growth for evidences of "die back" of the branches. If "die 

 back" is present, superficial examination will generally determine if it is 

 caused by neglect or by the attacks of insects. If not caused by neglect or 

 insect attacks, he may assume that some primary essential to the con- 

 tinued and successful cultivation of the tree is wanting and that the loca- 

 tion is unsuited to profitable plantations. 



With due regard to these preliminary precautions and a close oversight 

 of every subsequent operation, there is no reason why the growing of 

 cacao may not ultimately become one of the most profitable horticultural 

 enterprises that can engage the attention of planters in this Archipelago. 



