450 COCOA 



CHAP. 



Together with the cocoa the cuttings of the shade 

 trees, the " kofiiemama " or Erytlirina glauca, are 

 planted ; large cuttings 3 or 4 feet in length are generally 

 ,and successfully used for the purpose, and after three 

 years the shade afforded by these trees is sufficient to 

 replace the plantains or bananas. 



Formerly the custom was to plant the cocoa closely, 

 at 12 feet or sometimes less. But later 15 feet was 

 adopted ; afterwards 1 8 feet was considered a good 

 distance, and there has recently been a tendency to 

 make the distance still greater. 



In this respect, however, there has been a reaction, 

 and, without adopting the idea of the negroes, " more 

 trees more cocoa," planters have seen that, though trees 

 planted at distances of 18 to 24 feet may develop 

 beautifully, the increase of production per tree under 

 such conditions is not enough to give a higher return 

 per acre. It is now estimated that the best results are 

 obtained when the cocoa trees are planted at a distance 

 of about 15 x 18 feet, or 18 x 18 feet, or 15 x 24 feet, 

 while the shade trees are planted at a distance of 50 

 to 80 feet in the row, the rows being at a distance of 

 30 feet (one row of shade trees on each bed of 30 feet). 



Sometimes plant-holes are made, but not always ; and 

 it seems not absolutely necessary. As previously stated, 

 the cocoa plant in Surinam is a surface-feeder, and it 

 must be so, because in the rainy season the water 

 always stands at a high level in the soil. The roots 

 cannot live in the deep layers, and therefore a deep 

 loosening of the soil would be useless. But a superficial 

 loosening is useful, and the covering of the soil round 

 the newly-planted tree with fallen leaves and refuse of 

 weeding improves the growth. 



A system of regularly covering the soil round the 

 young tree with banana leaves, as is done on the planta- 

 tion " Susannasdaal," has very good results. It pre- 

 vents the soil getting dry in times of drought, as well 

 as getting stiff by heavy rains. 



Planting at stake is generally done, but in most 



