130 COCOA 



CHAT. 



they bear the horizontal posts, which are fastened to 

 each other by cord or some strong fibre such as in most 

 cases can easily be found in the tropical forest. On 

 this horizontal frame light sticks are laid as a support 

 for the palm leaves which are used to form the roof. 

 Almost all kinds of palms can be used for this purpose, 

 but those with broad and stiff leaflets have the 

 preference ; and other leaves may also be suitable, if 

 they are stiff and broad and do not shrink much in 

 drying. Low shrubs with many ramifications may 

 sometimes be useful. The only thing to be regarded is 

 to obtain a roof which will last for some time, and 

 which can easily be regulated so as to afford more or 

 less shade. 



When the nursery is ready the seeds are sown out 

 on the beds in rows, both the rows and the seeds in each 

 row being one foot (30 cm.) apart. 



The work tc be done in the nursery after the sowing 

 out wholly depends on the kind of soil and on the 

 season. In many cases the nursery will not require 

 much care, only regular and careful weeding being 

 necessary. 



When the soil is very light, however, it is advisable 

 to apply manure a second time, namely when the plants 

 have reached a height of 6 inches and have made the 

 first pair of leaves. Well-decomposed pen manure or 

 compost may be applied as a loose layer one or two 

 centimetres thick on the surface of the beds. If the 

 season is dry, it keeps the moisture in the soil, and if 

 rain falls, it adds to the fertility of the soil and helps 

 to secure a healthy condition and strong growth of the 

 plants. 



On stiff clay soil the same method will be found 

 useful, but before applying the compost or manure, it 

 is a good thing to loosen the surface of the compact 

 soil superficially, either by means of a small, pointed 

 wooden stick or any other instrument which allows a 

 prudent loosening of the soil without damage to the 

 young plants or their roots. This work can, of course, 





