28 LAYING OUT A COCOA PLANTATION 



symmetrical appearance of the estate and the fact that 

 it contains the greatest number of trees which can be 

 profitably grown. Where lining is not practised, a certain 

 number of trees will be always found planted too closely 

 together, while others have an unnecessarily large area 

 allotted to them and ground space is wasted. 



Holing. It will considerably facilitate the growth of 

 the young cocoa plants if the ground be carefully prepared 

 for their reception. A month or two before transplanting 

 takes place holes about 3 ft. square and 2 ft. deep should 

 be dug ; the sub-soil being thrown into a heap alongside 

 the hole. On steep hill-slopes this soil is best placed on 

 the lower side of the hole. 



If water stagnates in the holes this indicates that 

 drainage is necessary and must receive attention before 

 planting commences. A few days previous to trans- 

 planting the young cocoa plants the holes should be 

 rilled with any rich surface-soil in the neighbourhood. 

 Should this not be available it is advisable to place a 

 good layer of animal manure at the bottom of the hole. 

 If it be decided to sow beans " at stake," i.e. at the points 

 allotted to the cocoa trees, three or four beans should be 

 sown at the commencement of the rainy season at each 

 peg and protected by erecting a small framework of 

 palm-leaves or similar material over them. Should more 

 than one bean germinate all except the strongest must 

 be removed when the plants are about a foot high. This 

 method of propagation is impracticable when frequent 

 periods of dry weather occur during the rainy season, 

 as the young cocoa trees demand a moist soil during the 

 first four or five months of their existence. 



