300 COCOA 



CHAP. 



are also beginning to treat the shade trees more care- 

 fully, and to remove the lower branches regularly so 

 as to obtain sufficient space between the tops of the 

 cocoa trees and the lower branches of the shade trees. 



Diseases occur in Ecuador as in every other cocoa- 

 growing country, but in the absence of any scientific 

 agricultural institute they have never been investigated, 

 and no methods for combating them have been properly 

 worked out. The consequence is that the annual 



FIG. 100. Cocoa grown without temporary shade (Plantation "La Elvira," Ecuador). 



damage done is considerable. The most common 

 diseases are the " mancha " and the " mosquilla." 



The "mancha" (which means "spot") is a disease 

 which attacks the pod at ail ages. A black spot appears 

 on the pod and gradually extends. It causes the decay 

 of the whole fruit, and is probably caused by a fungus. 

 This malady causes great loss, especially when the rains 

 are heavy, and the difference between the day and night 

 temperature is great. The "mosquilla" (see p. 278) is 

 an insect which attacks the fruits. Both these maladies 

 are prevalent in the coast regions, and the damage is 



