16 
in the Islands where cacao has been grown extensively for 
years will be improved by budding in the immediate future, 
nor that a large percentage of the new plantations will be 
planted with trees propagated in that way, because as the 
saying goes “it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks.” 
Nevertheless it is the only way in which those Islands can 
retain their prestige in the cacao world. The orange grower 
with his knowledge of improved methods will some day 
take hold of cacao and those who will not adjust themselves 
to the change will simply be left behind. 
SELECTION 
The main requirements of a cacao tree are that it must 
be vigorous, disease resistant, prolific and produce beans of 
good quality. These are sometimes obtained in pure strains 
of Forastero, and planting seeds from such trees may give 
good results. In selecting seeds the following precautions 
should be taken: 
(1) The tree or trees from which the seeds are selected 
should be surrounded by no other cacao trees except they 
are of the same variety and fill the requirements as set forth 
above. (2) Selection should as a rule not be made from 
trees growing under unnatural conditions, such as in back 
yards or close to barns where the abundance of plant food 
may be the entire cause of vigor and prolificness. (3) Se- 
lection should not be made from trees on the strength of 
one season's crop, but only after it has been proved that the 
vigor and prolificness are inherent qualities not caused 
by external influences. 
When selecting trees from which to take bud-wood 
practically the same requirements should be considered. The 
tree should be prolific, disease resistant and the beans of 
