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The World's Commercial Products 



By permission of 

 CEYLON. 



Mesm. Cadbitry Br 



NURSERY OF CACAO SEEDLINGS IN BASKETS OF PLAITED PALM LEAF 



•with, and two methods may be adopted. The seeds can be sown in nurseries and kept there 

 until young plants a foot or so high are available, or seeds may be sown in the ground, where 

 future trees are desired ; the latter method is called M planting at stake." The young plants 

 have to be carefully shaded in either case. In a tropical nursery, bamboos cut up into lengths, 

 ■each consisting of one joint, form excellent pots, and are extensively employed. Plaited 

 palm-leaves also form useful " flower-pots." The young plants are carefully tended until of 

 .sufficient size, and then planted out and carefully shaded from the sun, during a season when 

 they will get showers to give them a good start in life. 



When the seed is sown at stake three seeds are planted in one hole ; the holes are made 

 .at a distance of four to five yards apart in all directions. Many of the seeds will probably 

 not germinate, however, owing to various causes, but of the plants which do come up the 

 weaker, ones are pulled out for the benefit of the stronger specimens. When they are a little 

 •over three feet high, they are pruned, in order that the trees may attain a pyramidal crown. 



Shading. Cacao trees raised from seed, whether in nurseries or in the open, require to be 

 protected from the sun, when placed in their permanent positions. This is usually afforded 

 by growing bananas, pigeon peas, cassava, or other temporary crops between the rows of young 

 plants. They supply the requisite shade, and, moreover, yield crops, and bring in returns during 

 the five or more years of waiting for the cacao to mature. This temporary shading is quite distinct 

 from the use of permanent shade trees. In many countries cacao thrives better under the 

 light shade of taller trees and those nearly always used are various leguminous trees which 

 we may speak of collectively as Bois immortel (Erythrina, spp.) or Madre de Cacao (Mother 

 ■of Cacao), to use the Spanish name. These are planted at proper distances amongst the young 

 •cacao, and kept there permanently even when the cacao is fully grown, when the temporary 

 shade plants-have long since been removed. 



• Fruiting. Trees about five years old bear fruit. These are at first green, turning red and 

 yellow as they ripen, and when dried their colour becomes a chestnut-brown. They are 

 attached to the stem or branches by a short stalk, and are somewhat like very thick cucumbers 



