448 



COCOA 



CHAP. 



Bananas are in one respect more suitable for tempor- 

 ary shade because they are easier grown than the 

 plantains ; they grow for many years without showing 

 a decline in growth on the same field, while plantains 

 begin to get weak, sometimes after having given only 

 one or two crops. 



This is especially the case when they have not been 

 cultivated carefully, as often happens on the grounds 

 of small owners ; and here the drawback mentioned has 



FIG. 132. Cocoa just planted out between "Gros Michel" bananas. 



often been badly felt. Often the plantain begins to 

 decline rather suddenly before the shade trees have 

 grown large enough to give sufficient shade. Some- 

 times also the small proprietor is careless, and waits too 

 long before planting the shade trees (Fig. 133 and 

 Fig. 37). 



The consequence is that the young cocoa is left 

 suddenly without shade ; and this has often been the 

 cause of the death of many young cocoa trees. 



This fault is easily avoided when not only plantains 

 are planted but also bananas ; and it has been the object 



