fo-n. 



393 COCOA 



In the Kandy district the south-west rains are heavy 

 during April and June, while in October and November 

 those from the north-east are still heavier. There is 

 a warm dry period in February and March, a hotter but 

 moister one during April and May, followed by seven to 

 eight months of rainy weather, when the temperature is 

 slightly lower and the humidity high. 



The Criollo variety, called here " Old Eed Ceylon," 

 has been in the beginning the only one cultivated, but 

 since ravages of diseases have become prominent, there 

 has been a tendency to replace this variety with the 

 more prolific varieties of Forastero, in the belief that 

 the latter was not so liable to these ravages. 



o 



The Forastero, however, has not answered in every 

 respect to expectations. The Helopdtis and the canker 

 appeared to attack the Forastero as well as the Criollo, 

 and this experience has induced some of the planters 

 to plant again the " Old Red " (Criollo). 



May, June, and July is the time of full-blossoming, 

 and the main crop is obtained in the months of October, 

 November, December, and January. 



As regards distance of planting, the opinions in 

 Ceylon agree with those of the Java planters : 15x15 

 feet is considered close enough for a good Forastero 

 under ordinary conditions, and it is the opinion of Mr. 

 Lock that this interval may be increased to as much as 

 20 x 20 in cases where soil and shelter are especially 

 favourable. 



It seems that the banana is not used for preliminary 

 shade. In this respect cocoa culture in Ceylon and in 

 Java appear to correspond. In both countries the 

 dadap (Erythrina lithosperma) is considered the best 

 plant as well for temporary as for permanent shade at 

 any rate when it is not subject to the attack of many 

 insect-enemies, as is the case in most parts of Java. 



The way in which the dadap is used in Ceylon is 

 described by Lock * in the following way : 



1 Lock, "Cacao Cultivation in Ceylon" (vol. vi. No. 6 of the Circulars of 

 the Royal Botanical Gardens, Ceylon, February 1912, p. 95). 



