COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 373 



improvement in the beans of the mother tree may easily 

 be explained by the fact that the bean is a product of 

 the fertilisation with pollen of the Criollo father, and it 

 is therefore not astonishing that Criollo characters are 

 to be found not only in the offspring, but also in the 

 bean of the interplanted Forastero tree. 



On the other hand, the Venezuelan "planters have 

 observed that the presence of the Forastero tree has no 

 effect on the offspring of the Criollo. Even when 

 surrounded by Forastero trees, the Criollo gives always 

 an offspring consisting of pure Criollo trees. 



It may be remembered here that exactly the same 

 facts have been observed in Java, and the present 

 author is able to confirm the observations made by the P \| 

 Java planters : Forastero hybridises and improves in CX 

 following generations when Criollo trees are in the f* 

 neighbourhood ; Criollo, however, does not hybridise, and 

 remains in following generations pure Criollo in spite of 

 the neighbourhood of Forastero trees. 



The methods of cultivation in Venezuela are rather 

 simple, but not so primitive as in Ecuador, and by far 

 not so rough as in Brazil. 



The forest is wholly cleared ; no trees are left ; and at 

 once the temporary shade plants are planted, such as 

 bananas ; also corn and other crops. 



The seeds are planted directly on the spot (" at 

 stake"), usually at distances of from 9 to 12 feet; but 

 generally the planter has also a nursery for supplying 

 the places where the seedlings failed. 



Together with the cocoa the shade trees are planted. 

 The same two Erythrina species are used as in Trinidad, 

 namely the Erythrina velutina, called here " Bucare 

 pionio," for the low lands, and the Erythrina umbrosa, 

 called here " Bucare anauca," for the higher lands. But 

 also different sorts of Guamo (Inga) are much planted, 

 and sometimes the Saman (Pithecolobium Samari) or 

 the Mijagua (Anacardium rhinocarpus). According to 

 Preuss, opinions widely differ about the value of the two 

 last-mentioned trees some planters are very enthusiastic 



