PLANTING CACAO 85 



used in seed beds as it is not required, and plants grow 

 much hardier without it. Where plants have to be 

 transported to places difficult of access, it is better to grow 

 them first in shallow seed boxes, and. while the plants are 

 quite small to transfer them to bamboo joints or baskets, 

 and to grow on in these until plants are ready for the field. 

 Plants should not be allowed to stand in bamboo joints 

 long enough to allow their roots to curl or become matted, 

 as this materially affects their subsequent welfare in the 

 field. Plants may also be transferred to bamboo joints 

 from beds and grown on for the fields. 



When using nursery plants, the soil at the place of 

 planting should be well prepared by breaking it up with 

 a fork some little time previous to the day of planting in 

 order to allow it to sweeten before the plant is put in. 



The field is generally lined throughout, forming rows 

 at certain distances, and pickets or stakes are placed in the 

 ground showing the position of each tree. When seed is 

 used, three selected seeds should be placed in a triangle 

 about six inches apart and covered with about an inch of 

 soil, the earth being pressed somewhat firmly down with 

 the hand or foot, thus ensuring a more regular amount 

 of moisture around the seed than if the earth were left 

 loose. In transplanting from nurseries to the field the 

 greatest care should be taken to keep the roots of the 

 plants as free from injury as possible and to secure balls 

 of earth to each plant. The roots must not in any case be 

 allowed to become dry, and to secure a good supply of 

 moisture in the plant itself, nurseries should always be 

 copiously watered the evening before the plants are to be 

 removed to the field. In no case should the plants, root, 

 or branch, be exposed to a current of dry air or to direct 

 sunshine. 



In putting the plant into the ground the planter should 

 make sure that he does not plant it too deep or too shallow. 

 The surrounding soil at the time of planting should be 

 pressed firmly down, but not made hard, allowance being 

 made for dry or wet weather, but plants should never be 



