AMONG THE GOLD COAST COCOA FARMS 45 



pods are green until they begin to ripen, when they 

 turn yellow or red, according to the variety of the tree 

 that bears them. The trees by which we are surrounded 

 are, as you know, all members of the Forastero class, 

 variety Amelonado amarillo ; consequently, the ripe 

 pods are all yellow. The average length of cocoa pods 

 is from 6 to 12 inches, according to the variety of 

 the tree ; actual length and bulk of the pods vary very 

 considerably with weather conditions, as also does the 

 number of pods on a tree. Rain helps to swell the 

 pods, and sun, of course, is needed to ripen them ; a cold, 

 dry wind has a shrivelling effect, and young pods are 

 apt to drop off wholesale under such an influence. 



The trees begin to flower, as a rule, when they are 

 three years old, and to bear fruit onwards from their 

 fourth year. They should be in full bearing by about 

 their twelfth year. They may live and be productive 

 until they are sixty years old or more, but their length 

 of life depends very much on the way they are treated, 

 particularly as regards the amount of care taken to safe- 

 guard them against disease. The trees flower and 

 fruit all the year round. Look carefully at any tree 

 which happens to be near you, and you will find on it 

 flowering " cushions " to which are attached pods in 

 various stages of development, from infancy to ma- 

 turity. But although there are ripe pods to be gathered 

 at all times of the year, there are special harvest 

 seasons due to the tropical succession of rainy and 

 dry seasons. In the Gold Coast the Big Season begins 

 about the middle of October and lasts until about mid- 

 January; this is followed by a Small Season between 

 March and May or early June. 



METHODS OP CULTIVATION. In most cocoa pro- 

 ducing countries a considerable amount of work is 



