BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 697 



\Ci-y fmall holes, would, no doubt, be Icis troublefonic, and perform 

 this operation much better ; but tlie water ufcd for the purpofc (hould 

 be taken from a river, and fufFcred to ftand for ibme hours in a tub 

 or ciftern, previous to its being ufed. Plantain trees afford the inoft 

 natural and agreeable fiiade for thefe plants, while very young ; but, 

 as they rife, they fhould be furnifhed with a more fubftantial defence 

 agaiiift the inclemencies of the weather, till th.ey attain to full perfec- 

 tion ; and it ought even then to be removed with caution. 



If the walk is extenfive, a few large timber-trees may be left on the 

 outline, or ikirts, here and there, to break the force of the wind. '^I'iie 

 Spaniards fet orange-trees, but they are, 1 think, too flow in their 

 growth. 1 have feen the horfe caffia, and mammce, ufed for this 

 purpofe i and they feem better adapted, from the largenefs of bulk, and 

 thick (liady leaves. 



When the cacao is fix months old, the planter, from this period, 

 muft not be too fond of cleaning the walk from grafs and herbage ; 

 becaufe they keep the ground cool ; but all creeping, climbing plants, 

 and fuch weeds as grow high enough to overtop the cacao, fliould be 

 deftroyed. The ditlance for laying in the feeds may be about fixteen 

 or eiiihteen feet from tree to tree. 



The reafon for putting in three feeds is becaufe they fcldom all 

 fucceed ; or, if all gi"ow, they will not all be equally vigorous; when 

 therefore they are about eighteen inches high, one of the weakeft and 

 moft unpromifing of the three may be drawn up, and thrown away, 

 care being taken not to injure or difturb the roots of the two renjain- 

 ing. It is found by experience neceflary to plant the feeds whei'e the 

 trees are to remain ', for the tranfplanted trees will never thrive, nor 

 bear well, on account, as is fuppofed, of the tendernefs of the tap- 

 root, which, if it be the lead injured, will bring on a decay of 

 the tree. 



In two years time, the plants, havir>;i: grown to the height of about 

 five feet, will begin to flower ; thefe firft blolibms are always plucked 

 otfi for, if fuflered to rem lin, and produce fruit, the vigour of the 

 trees will be greatly impaired, and they wili never bear well after- 

 wards. Their fruit is not allowed to remain for maturity till the 

 third year, and then only fo much as leems proportioned to the ilrength 

 of each tree. By thefe precautions they will afterwards yield a larger, 



Vol. III. 4 U better 



