134 COCOA 



CHAP. 



and left intact longitudinally. In the bottom, which 

 is formed by the partition present at every node of the 

 bamboo stem, a hole is made in order to prevent the 

 water from standing in the pot. When broad bamboo 

 stems are not available, thinner stems may be split and 

 a pot the desired size is made by tying the pieces by 

 means of two strings (Fig. 46). 



FIG. 46. Pots made of pieces of bamboo held together with two strings 

 (plantation "Getas," Java). 



Instead of pots little baskets may be used (Fig. 47). 

 In Surinam the plants are brought from the nursery to 

 the field in their baskets, and are simply planted, basket 

 and all, at the proper place. This is a very simple and 

 practical method ; the roots of the young plant are 

 left wholly undisturbed, and the baskets very soon 

 decay in the soil, and thus present no hindrance to the 

 free development of the roots. In Java, however, the 

 baskets would be a great attraction to white ants, which 

 after having destroyed the baskets, would be apt to 

 damage the young plants as well. 



