THE CULTIVATION OF COCOA 127 



not, however, very important, for if when sowing out 

 in the field three or four good, carefully selected seeds 

 be placed at every spot, the planter may be confident 

 that at least one or two plants will be strong enough 

 and give good healthy trees. 



Finally, with some soils for instance, heavy clays 

 there may be an advantage in transplanting a young 

 tree just at the right season (at the beginning of the 

 rains after the dry season) in a carefully prepared, well- 

 tilled place. The growth of the transplanted tree is 

 then often very luxuriant. 



The disadvantage of the nursery system lies in the 

 damage which the plants often undergo in transplanting 

 and which may be serious if skilful labourers are not 

 available ; and as it requires more labour, it is more 

 expensive than planting at stake. 



Generally speaking, the best way in most cases will 

 be to plant at stake and to have a nursery ready for 

 supplying. 



The best season for planting is the season of the 

 rains following after the drought. Where the soil is 

 loose and porous, the planting of the seeds may be done 

 without any special preparation ; but when the soil 

 is stiff, as for instance in Guiana, it is very advisable to 

 prepare the place where the seeds are to be sown out. 

 For this purpose every planting place is forked at the 

 beginning of the dry season over a surface of about 4 to 

 9 square feet, and it is left to pulverise by the drought 

 and the rains following it. In this way the soil is made 

 friable, and the young plant will grow more easily than 

 in the compact clay soil. 



Three or four seeds are generally sown at each spot 

 where one cocoa tree is wanted, these seeds being placed 

 at some 12 inches distance from each other. In this 

 way three or four seedlings are obtained, from which 

 one can be selected. The young plants are liable to be 

 attacked by insects, and in many cases several of the 

 young seedlings are lost ; but if three or four seeds are 

 planted in this way, there is more chance of obtaining 



