VI 



THE CULTIVATION OF COCOA 119 



arrangement is when both the cocoa trees and the 

 " kapok " are 17 feet apart (Fig. 41). This system is a 

 profitable one when the climate is not too wet for the 

 " kapok " ; yields of about 400 Ibs. of cocoa and 300 to 

 400 Ibs. of " kapok " are often obtained. The soil, how- 

 ever, is not sufficiently protected, at any rate when the 

 cocoa plants are young, and it is therefore advisable to 

 plant some leguminous crop, as previously mentioned. 



FIG. 44. Cocoa field planted as indicated in Fig. 43, sweet potato being used 

 as a cover-crop. 



If this is neglected, the soil soon becomes spoiled and 

 covered with grass and noxious weeds. 



Instead of a low inter-crop, shade trees may be used; 

 these must not be allowed to grow too high, and should 

 remain lower than the " kapok " trees. The " dadap " 

 (Erythrina lithosperma) is sometimes used for the 

 purpose (Fig. 42). 



On some plantations the "kapok" and the cocoa 

 are planted closer, 15 or even 12 feet, but the results 

 seem to be better when they stand 17 feet apart. A 

 very good scheme is to plant the cocoa trees as 

 indicated in Fig. 43, and to thin out every other one 



