COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 379 



The distance of the trees is generally 3 Castilian 

 yards ( = 2 '5 2 metres ; 1 Castilian yard is 84 cm.). This 

 distance, equivalent to about 8 feet, is certainly too 

 small, and the more intelligent planters understand that 

 they have to plant wider ; a distance of 4 to 5 Castilian 

 yards, or 11 to 14 feet, is now adopted by several of 

 them; some prefer 6 Castilian yards = about 17 feet. 



As temporary shade for the young cocoa the plantain 

 is generally used. The plantains are removed when the 

 cocoa has reached a height of 5 feet ; on some planta- 

 tions, however, every other row of plantains is left 

 standing, till the cocoa has reached its full size (after 

 about six years). Instead of the plantain (" platanos") 

 the banana ("guineos") is sometimes used, sometimes 

 also the " yuca " or cassava. 



As shade tree sometimes a wild forest tree is left 

 standing, the " guarima," l a small tree ; but often the 

 whole forest is cleared. In this case between the 

 plantains or bananas a special shade tree is generally 

 planted, the " amapola," which is probably identical 

 with the " bocare " of Trinidad (Erythrina velutina), 

 the " bucare pionio " of Venezuela. In some districts, / 

 however, no shade trees are used at all, a remarkable ^ 

 fact, which shows again that this method of cultivating 

 cocoa is not so rare as is generally believed. We have 

 already seen that not only in Grenada, but also in 

 Brazil, this method is very general ; in Trinidad it is 

 becoming more and more popular ; and here we meet 

 it again in San Domingo. 



On many plantations there is a natural drainage 

 and no special drainage-canals are dug, but it is believed 

 that on several plantations a drainage-system would 

 greatly benefit the trees and increase the yield. 



Once or twice a year the full-grown fields are weeded; 

 young fields, however, are often not treated carefully 

 enough as regards weeding. 



It is an interesting fact that budding of cocoa has 

 already been tried in this country by several planters. 



1 I am unable to give the scientific name of this tree. 



