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usually afford very good protection against wind, and in 
clearing land, wind-belts should always be left at an interval 
of 500 to 1,000 feet. The knotty question of shade in cacao 
plantations would solve itself for planters if they would 
pay more attention to wind protection. 
After the land has been cleared or if it is free from 
forest to begin with it should be measured off and stakes 
placed where the trees are to be planted. This is, at the 
present time at distances varying from 10x10 feet to 15x15 
feet, arranged in the square or the quincunx system, 12x12 
feet in the square system, which allows 300 trees per acre is 
very common. 15x15 feet in the square system allows 193 
trees per acre, but if planted at that distance in the quincunx 
system it allows for 288 trees. The distance depends upon 
the variety planted. As it is the object to have the ground 
covered as soon as possible it is argued that at least 300 
trees should be planted of the smaller and slower growing 
Criollo, while 200 of the large vigorous Calabacillo will 
cover the ground in the same time. 
After the trees become too crowded the plan is to thin 
them out but unfortunately that is seldom done and it is 
quite certain that many plantations are suffering from over- 
crowding. 
Budded trees do not grow as large as seedlings but with 
improved cultural methods they will grow faster, and in a 
plantation being established where the soil can be cultivated 
and the other plants grown among the cacao trees until 
they fill all the space, 20x20 feet would undoubtedly be 
close enough. This would leave room for 108 trees per 
acre. However, we do not recommend such a change 
except where corresponding changes in cultural methods are 
made also. 
Where the stakes were placed’ holes should be dug, not 
