MANURING AND PRUNING. 21 



the more these are allowed to grow the larger amount of rook 

 power the tree will have ; but the cultivator should see that this 

 power is judiciously expended by directing growth in the 

 required channel. When however, a tree is bearing fairly in 

 proportion to its size, it is better to remove these branches as 

 they appear ; as ifc is certain that by affording free opening for 

 the absorption of sap, they rob the crop of the full amount of 

 nourishment it should obtain, and the productive power of the 

 tree is seriously affected. They should be removed however, 

 as they appear, and not be allowed to grow to a large size and 

 7 then removed, as that practice would simply be a waste of the 

 material used up in producing them, instead of using it for 

 the production of fruit. It is a bad and slovenly practice to 

 allow suckers or gormandizers to be pulled off. They should 

 always be removed with a sharp knife, when the wood is too 

 hard to allow of their being "pinched" between the thumb and 

 finger. 



In cases where the Cacao tree has evidently become some- 

 what worn out or partially barren (i.e.) its bearing wood shows 



evident signs of being out of condition, it is a good plan to make 

 use of a " gormandizer" to supply a new bearing head to the tree, 

 and give it a new lease of life. This can easily be done if the 

 most suitable is allowed to grow, and trees can be more quickly 



're-juvenated by this means than by any other. 



By allowing one of these branches to grow from a suitable 

 situation and by treating it in a similar manner as we would a 

 young plant, it is possible to re-juvenate and bring again into 

 bearing, trees which if left to themselves, could not be expected 

 to yield any crop. It is really wonderful in xvhn*-- a short time 

 this operation can be completed if skilfully carried out. 



After the young tree thus formed has assumed fair propor- 

 tions, the older wood should be carefully and gradually cut 

 away, but not all at once, as heavy pruning always seriously 

 interferes with the growth of the tree. If pruning is done with 



-a saw, the wounds should afterwards be smoothed over with a 

 sharp knife as they always heal better if thus treated, and 

 besides, they should be covered with a coating of tar and clay or 

 other antiseptic dressing to hinder the entrance of parasitic 

 fungi, and the Cacao beetle from laying its eggs in the wounded 

 parts. 



A mixture of coal tar and clay of the consistency of paint 

 may most conveniently be applied to all wounds. Pruning with 

 a blunt cutlass, knife, or Cacao hook, should never be allowed. 

 The instruments used should be those which are able to carry a 

 l<een edge, arid the pruners should always be supplied with the 

 means of sharpening their tools without leaving the field. 



