CHAPTER V 



LAYING OUT A COCOA PLANTATION 



Wind-breaks. Where strong winds are prevalent a 

 sheltered position should be chosen for the plantation, 

 as the foliage of the cocoa tree is peculiarly susceptible 

 to damage from wind when unprotected from them. 

 Trees in exposed situations are at times completely 

 divested of young, tender foliage by their agency ; and 

 even the soft wood of new growths becomes dried up 

 and killed through the same cause. Planters frequently 

 attribute to disease the injuries due to wind and lack 

 of shade ; this is not altogether surprising, for the curled, 

 shrivelled-up appearance of the young foliage injured 

 by wind is entirely dissimilar to the well-known shredded, 

 ragged aspect which the wind often imparts to larger 

 foliage. Unprotected plantations near the sea -shore 

 appear to be most seriously damaged ; this is probably 

 attributable to the salt-laden breezes, which not only 

 destroy all young foliage, but discolour and then shred 

 that which is fully developed. Many trees which afford 

 suitable wind-breaks inland will not thrive near the 

 sea-coast. The Japanese Lilac, M elia Azedarach, flourishes 

 near the sea-coast, even in brackish soil, as also does the 

 Coco-nut Palm, Cocos nucifera, and the giant Bamboo, 

 Bambusa arundinacea. Planted in such situations these 

 three species would form a most efficient wind-break. 



When forest land is being cleared, and is plentiful and 

 cheap, belts of indigenous trees may be left to serve as 

 wind-breaks. If forest trees are not available, or should 

 it be considered preferable to plant wind-breaks, trees 

 of economic value should be chosen for this purpose, 

 avoiding those liable to be broken by the wind. Besides 

 sheltering the cocoa they would serve as disease-checking 

 belts, provided that the species chosen are unrelated 

 to cocoa. 



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