COCOA IN ASHANTI 63 



We have trekked for about three miles through 

 dense forest when the trail merges into a broad path, 

 and the jungle gives place to a vast clearing planted 

 with cocoa-trees. We have reached the chief's cocoa 

 plantation, and in comparison with anything we have 

 seen so far it is certainly a model farm. On the 

 authority of the curator, this farmer -chief carries out, 

 generally speaking, the instructions of the agricultural 

 department. We notice that the undergrowth is kept 

 down; that the trees have been pruned to the extent of 

 having dead and diseased branches removed ; that wild 

 cotton-trees, which are a feature of the average farm 

 and the beloved haunt of one of the cocoa-tree's 

 deadliest enemies, are conspicuous by their absence ; and 

 that the plantation is intersected by clear-kept paths 

 which give easy access to the trees for cultural attention. 



The principal enemies to the cocoa-tree are : 



POD ROT. A fungus which spreads rapidly over the 

 surface of the pod and penetrates to the beans. 



WHITE THREAD. A fungus which affects the leaves. 

 The white threads travel quickly among the leaves, 

 killing every branch they attack. The whole tree dies 

 unless the affected limbs are removed. 



POD BORER. A moth, or, to use the family name by 

 which the insect pests are commonly known, a " cocoa 

 bug." In science, it belongs to the Helopeltis species, 

 and in everyday language it is called the " cocoa mos- 

 quito." It punctures the pod to attack the beans. 

 The outward signs of its ravages are small black spots. 



COCOA BARK SAPPER. A very deadly bug belonging 

 to the Sahlbergella species. Large black spots near 

 the base of cocoa pods are the mark of this beast. 

 The native names for it are " Akati " and " Sankouabi." 

 The latter means " back to the oil palm," and the idea 



