The Bearing of the Trees. 



The cacao-tree does not, like other trees, bear its fruit in 

 clusters or bunches, or on stalks, like grapes, mangoes, etc. ; 

 it is from the tree itself and from the thicker part of the 

 branches that the blossoms come forth, and after their fall 

 the young fruits are seen attached to and along the stem and 

 branches. A short stalk connects the fruit with the tree, 

 so that at the gathering the fruit has only to be twisted round 

 a few turns to get it loose. The fruit hanging beyond reach 

 must be cut off with a sharp gathering hook. 



In its fourth year the cacao-tree begins to bear fruit and 

 then continues uninterruptedly. 



The greatest fertility prevails from its I2th to 25th year. With 

 careful treatment, however, the tree can be made productive 

 till its 5oth year, and even longer; such old trees are, in a 

 regular season, not inferior in fertility to younger ones, even 

 of half their age. Not all cacao-fields are equally productive ; 

 in one and the same plantation it often appears that one field 

 is much more productive than another. The cause of this 

 may be: better and more fertile land on that spot, or an 

 unexpected shower of rain discharging itself on a part of the 

 fields. This settles the question why one plantation should be 

 more productive than another. 



