CHAPTER IV 



NURSERIES 



The cacao-tree has been propagated in the past almost 

 invariably from seed. In the Annual Report for 1898 of 

 the Botanical Department of Trinidad, the writer put on 

 record (probably for the first time) the success of an 

 experiment in grafting by approach, which had been 

 carried out during that year. Although cacao is still for 

 the greater part propagated by seeds, the advantages of 

 planting grafted supplies from selected trees has made 

 considerable progress, and the practice is now becoming 

 recognised and recommended by many who have witnessed 

 its successful adoption.* For those, however, who still 

 prefer propagation by seed, or those who are unable to 

 take up grafting for want of skilled assistance, the best 

 methods of selection and practice are briefly detailed. 



In making his selection of seed, the planter should not 

 be guided by the colour, shape, or size of the pods, as it 

 has been found that the variations are so numerous 

 as to miake such a selection utterly unreliable. He 

 should carefully examine the trees on his estate and select 

 those as seed-bearers which show such good qualities as : 

 (1) high vitality and vigour ; (2) good habit of growth ; 

 (3) good and regular bearing qualities, and (4) affording 

 high-class produce. The trees should be marked and 

 numbered, and only the best pods should be used for 

 nursery work. The seedlings raised from the individual 

 trees should be kept apart from each other. The young 

 plants from each tree should be planted in rows and 



* See article by Professor Labroy in Jowrnal D' Agriculture Tro^eah, 

 October 1909, No. 100, p. 292. 



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