THE CULTIVATION OF COCOA 125 



a few more crops from them. This eventually ends in 

 loss, for if the superfluous trees are thinned out too 

 late, the others which have to remain permanently will 

 already have adapted their leaf and branch system to 

 their close quarters and will not again assume their 

 right form. This is so much to be dreaded, and it 

 happens so often, that the system cannot be considered 

 suitable for general adoption. 



As has already been pointed out, it is only in 

 countries where the young plants grow well without 

 much care and where they are not troubled by animals 

 or fungus diseases, that a very careful manager, who 

 will not yield to the temptation to leave the superflu- 

 ous trees too long, may profit by the adoption of this 

 system. In Fig. 43 a good system, followed on the 

 plantation " Siloewok Sawangan " (Java), is represented. 



When the other system is followed and the trees are 

 from the beginning at their proper, permanent distance, 

 more care has to be given to the temporary shade 

 plants, such as bananas, cassava, etc., for it is very 

 important to keep the soil well shaded and to prevent it 

 being washed away. 



Sowing out in the open field and the nursery 

 system. When the plants used for temporary shade are 

 already grown up so as to afford the necessary shade, 

 the cocoa can be sown out. With bananas or plantains 

 the shade will not be sufficient before a year after 

 planting ; with cassava and tannia, especially when they 

 are planted fairly close to the cocoa, the shade afforded 

 may be sufficient a little earlier, say after six months. 



As regards the question which is to be preferred, 

 sowing out in the ttpen field or planting from nurseries, 

 it may be said that both methods have their advantages 

 and that local conditions must decide which method 

 is to be adopted. Speaking generally, it must be 

 obvious that sowing out in the open field or planting 

 at stake, as it is often called is the simplest, the most 

 practical, and in many cases the best for the growth of 

 the young plant. When no special reasons for planting 



