IMPORTANCE OF CARE IN HARVESTING FRUITS 117 



The labourers frequently climb the trees to collect the 

 fruit from the high branches, and by this means cause 

 considerable damage to the " flower-cushions." 



The wounds caused by careless picking also afford 

 convenient openings for disease infection. 



It will thus be apparent that unless due care be exer- 

 cised in reaping cocoa fruits the productive capacity of 

 the trees will be appreciably diminished. 



Reaping Implements. — All the fruits on the lower part 

 of the tree should be severed by means of a sharp knife ; 

 those out of reach can be cut by means of variously 

 shaped cutting-implements supported on poles of con- 

 venient length. There are numerous forms of the latter 

 in use ; some are shaped like a small biU-hook, with either 

 a sharpened, pointed extension above the hook, or an 

 extension with a cutting edge at right angles to the 

 handle. Another has its cutting edge in the shape of 

 a V. West African natives often employ a flattened, 

 spear-shaped cutter, with which they are particularly 

 dexterous." 



Whatever form of cutter be employed it is most im- 

 portant that it should be made of first-class material, 

 capable of maintaining a keen edge. It is impossible 

 to sever properly a cocoa fruit with a bhint instrument, 

 whatever its shape may be. 



The main requirements of a cocoa reaping-knife are 

 that, (1) it should sever the fruit-stalk without dragging 

 or tearing the tissues, and without injury to the " flower- 

 cushion " ; (2) it will detach satisfactorily a ripe fruit 

 from a bunch of immature ones ; (3) it should be light 

 in weight, but at the same time strong, durable, and 

 capable of being easily sharpened. 



However well an implement may be adapted for cutting 

 the fruit it is certain to prove destructive in the hands 

 of a careless operator. The collection of fruit requires 

 as much careful supervision as any other operation 

 connected with the production of cocoa, for upon its 

 proper performance depends, in a large measure, not only 

 the quality of the actual crop being harvested, but also the 

 quantity of subsequent crops. The quality of the crop 

 is affected by the cutting of immature fruits and by 

 missing the ripe ones, which become over-ripe by the time 

 the next collection takes place. Injuries caused to the. 



