192 COCOA 



CHAP. 



in the fields provides shelter for all sorts of noxious 

 insects (borers, etc.). It is not sufficient to collect the 

 dead trees into heaps at special places. The dead wood 

 must be destroyed as soon as possible, for preference by 

 burning. 



These general remarks as to preventive measures 

 against the spreading of diseases and insect pests are 

 sufficient for the moment. In Chapter VIII. the 

 different diseases are described separately, together with 

 the special methods of preventing and eradicating them. 



Picking. The ripening of the fruit is generally 

 indicated by a change of colour. In the red variety the 

 colour changes generally from carmine to vermilion in 

 consequence of the development of a yellow pigment, 

 which alters the carmine to vermilion or even to orange. 

 In the yellow varieties the fruit is green when unripe, 

 changing to yellow ; but sometimes this change is very 

 slight and the colour remains green, growing only a 

 little paler as the fruit becomes ripe. Moreover, when 

 the fruit is ripe the seeds become loose from the husks 

 and adhere only to the central stalk, or " placenta," in 

 the middle of the fruit. Accordingly, if a ripe fruit 

 be shaken the seeds can be heard tossing against the 

 husk, and if the fruit -wall be tapped with the finger 

 or a piece of wood a ripe fruit gives a hollow sound. 

 Labourers, however, never use this latter test, as they 

 have learned to judge by the outer appearance of the 

 fruit whether or not it is ripe enough to be picked. 



Picking may be considered fairly simple work, but 

 the planter has to take care of two things : that clean 

 wounds are made in picking the fruits, and that the 

 cushions which bear the fruits are not too much injured. 

 The consequences of careless picking are not so serious 

 as has been asserted by some authorities, who regard 

 the remaining fruit-stalks of carelessly picked fruits as 

 the main entrances for parasites, and who consider the 

 injuring and damaging of the " cushions " to result in 

 insufficient production of flowers the following year. 

 As entrances for parasites, however, diseased and un- 



