CHAPTER V 



PLANTING CACAO 



The preparation of virgin land for planting cacao is heavy 

 work, especially if it is covered with a full growth of timber. 

 In the West Indies such work is usually done by contract, 

 at per acre, or per " quarree " (in Trinidad), the latter 

 being a Spanish measure of 3^ acres. The cost of felling 

 and burning varies in accordance with the prices of labour 

 ruling in the district, from about $15 to $25 per quarree. 



Making provision for supply of young plants of a 

 suitable kind is, of course, one of the first things to be 

 considered in planting an estate, and it must be decided 

 (a) whether to plant " at stake," which means planting 

 seeds direct into the ground in the position the permanent 

 tree is intended to occupy ; (b) whether to raise the 

 seedling plants in nurseries, in beds, boxes, or pots, and 

 afterwards plant in the fields, or (c) whether to depend 

 upon seedlings, and plant only grafted plants taken from 

 selected stock. 



Planting " at stake " means, that the young plant once 

 fairly started does not have its roots injured in any way 

 by the operation of transplanting, and the roots will once 

 and for all assume a natural position. There can be no 

 doubt whatever that by this method trees once well started 

 have a great advantage over transplanted ones. Some- 

 times, however, it is more convenient or economical for 

 the planter to raise his plants in nurseries, transplanting 

 to the field in suitable weather. Advantages lie with 

 both systems, and either may be used at will. 



In nurseries, beds should be formed of light, friable soil, 



with a small admixture of sand. No manure should be 



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