The Soil. 



o The cacao-tree thrives luxuriantly in a loose clayey soil. The 

 stratum of peat, which in some localities covers the earth to the 

 depth of a few feet, is, more than any other manuring, 

 favourable to the tree. Only the young cacao-trees have, in 

 the rich peat-soil in times of drought, much to suffer from 

 the broiling heat which the peat absorbs from the sun. These 

 young trees must then be protected by piling up a good deal 

 of earth at the foot of the stems, and covering this with a 

 thick layer of dried grass, which will preserve moisture and 

 coolness. 



It is, however, advisable, before planting the cacao-tree in 

 a peat-soil, to dig the soil deep, turning the clay up on the 

 surface and the peat under. This is a good preservative against 

 the heating of the ground. 



Salt water is undeniably a great enemy to the cacao-tree. 

 Directly the roots come in contact with salt water, the tree 

 languishes and soon perishes. An instance of this was seen on 

 a certain plantation, where, during an intense drought, the 

 salt water broke through the banks inundating ten fields 



