necessarv. 



Ill CACAO IIS 



such situations as in more favourable localities. But on no 

 account must the trees be nearer than eight feet to each 

 other, and if a good planter come into possession of a cacao 

 plantation where the trees are closer, he will at once set to 

 work to thin them out, for in this way, although he will ^'!'"l'"^ 



' y J C3 Qut the trees 



decrease the number of his trees, he will greatly increase 

 the crop. 



Holing. — This has been duly described in the chapter on 

 coffee. Except in the case of rich, friable and well drained 

 soil, holes must always be dug for the plants. To put a Holi 

 cacao seedling into hard, stiff land, without holing properly, 

 is simply to court failure, for the plant will remain with 

 scarcely any attempt at growth ; and, if it do not die, it will 

 take many years before it produces any fruit. The holes Size of the 

 should be two feet square and two feet deep — that is eight 

 cubic feet of earth must be taken out ; if this be done, and 

 the holes be properly filled, cacao can be made to grow on 

 almost any soil that is sufficiently deep. If the digger be 

 driven into the ground at the bottom of the hole, and if it 

 enter freely without touching rock the soil may be considered 

 to be deep enough for the cacao plant. 



Planting Out.— This must be done very carefully, for the Transplant- 

 seedlings are extremely delicate, and plants taken from the dI5ie°in''wet 

 nurseries will die in large numbers if dry weather come on weather. 

 after planting. It is as well, therefore, to wait for the rainy 

 season before putting out the plants into the field. 



Shade. — The cacao trees when young will not thrive with- shade ad- 

 out shade, and when they are fully grown, it is found that ^antageoiis. 

 they give better crops if shade trees are planted at intervals. 

 For the young cultivation, the banana gives the best shade, bananas. 

 and it seems specially adapted for the purpose ; besides 

 which, its fruit is valuable, and will give a return from the 

 land whilst the young cacao is growing. The bananas should 

 not be put closely to the cacao plants. The best way is to 



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