THE CACAO-TREE. 17 



lations of the sea and irrigated by the 

 numerous rivulets that course down the 

 valleys, are found to be, in all respects, 

 well adapted to the profitable cultivation 

 of cocoa. And while the lands in the 

 interior possessing facilities for irrigation 

 may be said to be equally as good for 

 the purpose, yet the absence of roads, and 

 the consequently difficult transportation of 

 produce on the backs of donkeys over 

 rugged mountain paths, materially reduce 

 the profits on the crop before it reaches 

 the market. 



" A cocoa plantation is set in quite the 

 same manner as an apple-orchard, except 

 that the young stalks may be transplanted 

 from the nursery after two months' growth. 

 No preparation of the soil is deemed neces- 

 sary, and no manures are applied. The 

 young trees are planted about fifteen feet 

 equidistant, which will accommodate two 

 hundred trees to the acre. Between rows, 

 and at like spaces, are planted rows of the 



