IX 



COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 409 



Above 1800 or 2000 feet the growth is still satis- 

 factory, but the yields are small, and the prolonged 

 growth makes conditions favourable to the moth. The 

 cultivation of cocoa is therefore considered not advisable 

 on lands above 1800 or 2000 feet. 



In most cases the nursery system is followed. 

 Often pots are used for the purpose. Baskets are 

 generally considered unsuitable, because, when planted 



FIG. 118. Cocoa planted in an old coffee field (plantation ''Getas"). 



Shade is afforded by Albizzia and "kapok " trees, some of the latter being used as supports 



for pepper. 



out into the field, the baskets attract white ants, which 

 begin to devour the baskets, and sometimes afterwards 

 attack and destroy the young plants. Bamboo pots are 

 considered more practical ; these are used either in the 

 ordinary way (see Chapter VI. pp. 133-134) and removed 

 before planting by splitting them into two parts, or 

 they are split before, and the parts fastened together 

 by means of fibre. By this method all injury to the 

 young plants in splitting the bamboo is avoided (Fig. 



4- n \ V O 



6). 



