446 COCOA CHAP. 



than in others, and it is not everywhere of the same 

 compactness. The presence of wild -growing plants 

 belonging to the Musa family (family of bananas, etc.) 

 is generally regarded as a proof of fertility, also the 

 occurrence of certain palm species, as the " palisade 

 palm " (Euterpe oleracea) and the royal palm (Orcodoxa 

 regia), while other plants are regarded as indicating a 

 less suitable soil. 



When the forest has been cleared, the wood is 

 arranged into rows running longitudinally in the middle 

 of the beds, leaving at each side place to plant one 

 or two rows of bananas or plantains, which are the 

 temporary shade plants commonly used (Figs. 131, 132, 

 and Fig. 36). Generally, the rows of wood are slightly 

 burned ; a too heavy fire is undesirable and spoils the 

 soil. 



Sometimes, however, one crop of corn (maize) is 

 grown immediately after clearing the forest. Among 

 small proprietors this is a general practice. 



Formerly the plantain 1 was cultivated during a 

 few years before the cocoa was planted. This was a 

 very paying crop, because the plantain together with 

 salt fish was the food of the people ; the negroes cannot 

 do without it, and not less than about f.l (is. 8d.) was 

 paid for one bunch. 



In those days the planter sometimes got, in the 

 first years after clearing, a return from his plantains 

 as remunerative as later from his cocoa. 



The plantains were generally planted at a distance 

 of 8 to 10 feet. But plantains cannot be cultivated 

 during many years ; after a few crops, generally after 

 two or three years, the bunches begin to get very 

 small. Before that time, cocoa and shade trees were 



1 As to the difference between the plantain and the banana there is some- 

 times some misunderstanding. It may therefore be pointed out here, that the 

 plantain is the variety which is never eaten raw, but always boiled or baked 

 in ripe or unripe condition ; in several parts of South America the plantain is 

 much appreciated by the people and always higher prices are paid for it than 

 tor the banana, which is eaten raw, more as a fruit than as a food. It is rather 

 confusing that in Surinam the name for the plantain is " banaan" or " banan," 

 while the name for the banana is "bacove," 



