36 PROPAGATION 



types yield much rounder beans than others, and these 

 should preferably be chosen for propagating purposes. 



Round or " bold " beans almost invariably realise 

 higher market prices than flat ones of the same quality. 

 Certain trees are more disease-resistant than others. 

 Beans from trees infected with disease should therefore 

 not be used for propagating. Beans of diseased trees 

 often contain a fungus mycelium, which might be the 

 means of infecting young plants raised from them ; other 

 qualities desirable in trees selected for propagating pur- 

 poses are that they should be of high vitality and heavy, 

 regular fruit bearers. 



Beans intended for sowing should only be selected from 

 well-formed mature fruits and be taken from the centre 

 of the fruit, where they are larger and better developed 

 than those found at the ends of the fruit. 



Packing and Transport of Cocoa Beans. Cocoa beans 

 which have been taken from out of the fruit and exposed 

 to atmospheric influences soon lose their vitality. They 

 may be preserved in the fruits for a week or two by 

 completely covering them with a substance, such as 

 paraffin wax, which hermetically seals the contents. 

 Beans for propagation which are to be sent on a two or 

 three weeks' journey may be satisfactorily treated as 

 follows : 



Select perfectly ripe beans, thoroughly wash them and 

 carefully wipe oft' as much of the adherent pulp as possible 

 without injuring the integument. Spread them out 

 thinly in a current of cool air for about twenty-four hours, 

 then dust them with finely powdered charcoal. Prepare 

 a mixture consisting of equal parts vegetable mould and 

 finely powdered charcoal. Slightly moisten the mixture 

 and place alternate layers of the mixture and beans in 

 wooden boxes with a capacity of about a cubic foot. 

 To prevent the fine portions of the mixture filtering 

 through to one side of the box in transit, place sheets of 

 stout paper or some similar material between each layer 

 of beans. About 250 beans can be packed by this method 

 in a box of the dimensions previously stated. 



When cocoa beans are to be sent on a journey of more 

 than three weeks' duration they should be packed in 

 Wardian cases. The bottom of the case should be covered 

 to a depth of 3 or 4 in. with a slightly moistened mixture, 



