VI 



THE CULTIVATION OF COCOA 109 



in Ecuador. Though it must be admitted that under 

 especially favourable conditions of soil and climate this 

 method can be followed with success, it cannot be 

 recommended. The young cocoa plants, and still more 

 the soil, will be benefited by the shade of bananas or 

 some leguminous plant. 



Shade trees are not well suited for the temporary 

 shade of the young cocoa. It is true that in some 



FIG. 35. Cocoa grown in an old coffee field under large shade trees. 



The low ramification is noticeable. The large, old shade trees are Albizzia, the small ones 



Leucaena. 



countries trees of the original forest are left standing, 

 and that in those countries (San Thome, Ecuador, etc.) 

 the young cocoa is grown under the shade of those 

 trees, while in other countries (e.g. Java) cocoa is often 

 planted in old coffee fields without removing the old 

 shade trees. Nevertheless this sort of shade is not to 

 be recommended ; the young plants grow a weak wood 

 and a stem which easily splits, the stem ramificates 

 too low, and the branch system becomes bushy and 

 compact (Figs. 35, 59). 



To obtain a strong stem and well-formed, regular 



