SELT.CTION OP SEED. 



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This point was forcibly urged in De Vertetdl's " Trfcidad," 

 1884, p. 223. 



During the year 1898 the author proved by experiment 

 that the Cacao tree really admitted of propagation by grafting. 

 The method used was that of " inarching " or grafting by 

 approach. Having found trees possessing first-class qualities, it 

 is very easv to see that these may be reproduced in quantities 

 sufficient ic large areas, and that fields of Cacao may be 

 planted with exactly the same kind of tree as a select€d parent, 

 and that such area.s would give produce " regular," in quantity 

 and quality, year by year. There can be little doubt therefore 

 that the practice of using grafted trees, instead of the unreliable 

 seedling, will be of the greatest benefit to the planter. 



When planting from seed, it is well known that the produce 

 varies, and no two trees can be depended upon to give pods of 

 "the same size, or beans of the same quality. When selecting 

 pods for seed, it is at once clear, that if taken from the 

 open field, only the maternal parent of the seeds contained 

 therein, can be known ; while the interminable varieties 

 which everywhere exist clearly prove that cross fertilization 

 readily takes place. Variation is also to be well seen in 

 the cured produce, for although the beans may have a common 

 or family likeness, all dealers know, that if cut through and 

 carefully examined, there are material points of distinction, and 

 few can be found exactly alike. 



The difierence that an " even sample" would make to the 

 seller, is therefore obvious. Once a tree has been selected and 

 largely propagated, owing to the possession of superlative 

 qualities, it is evident that the produce must be of an even 

 character, and that taken year by year, the crop will vary but 

 very little in general quality. By using the process of grafting, 

 the planter will be able to secure trees of one habit, pods of one 

 colour, and beans of the very best quality. Such beans when 

 cured, would be unique in " break" and general condition ; and 

 would be immensely superior to any produce harvested from 

 seedling trees. To adopt grafting as a regular practice upon a 

 Cacao estate would only be to adopt a method of fruit culture 

 so long and so successfully followed in Europe and America. 

 Why should there not be, Fowler's " Nonpareil " Cacao, 

 Agostini's " Bright-red," Walker's " Excelsior " and Needham's 

 " CrioUo ;" as well as Parkin's " Surprise " Potato, Mastei'j 

 "Jargonel" Pear, or Bates' "Marmaduke" Cherry, is not 

 easy to define ; and it is probable the adoption of the art of 

 grafting will bring such kinds upon the local market, to its 

 evident advantage. 



