PLANTING CACAO 41 



of a single selected kind have easily been raised. Why 

 not the same number of cacao plants ? The apple 

 planter pays from 50 cents to one dollar for good 

 grafted fruit-trees, but the cacao planter asks for his 

 at 3 cents per plant, or less even, at the present day. 



If the adoption of the grafting process is desired inquiries 

 will at once arise as to the amount of skilled labour avail- 

 able. In Trinidad there is ample obtainable at reasonable 

 rates, and this is the case in other West Indian colonies 

 also, thanks to the training undertaken by botanical 

 establishments in recent years. 



It will be seen, therefore, that there are practically 

 three methods which are used in cacao-planting ; first, 

 planting from seed by the contract system ; secondly, 

 proprietary planting by " day labour " ; and third, 

 planting of estates with selected grafted plants taken from 

 the finest strains, which may be taken as the highest class 

 of cultivation which can at present be adopted. 



The actual work on the three methods as regards 

 treatment of the trees and land remains the same, but the 

 selection and separation into various strains is work which 

 can only succeed when carried out in a very careful manner, 

 at first under the guidance of an expert. 



The third method may be deemed expensive, but the 

 small expense necessary to raise and cultivate selected 

 trees will not be enough to deter the enterprising and careful 

 planter, as he will note that by its use he will obtain 

 strains of cacao which will carry higher and more regular 

 prices than those obtained under the old system of cul- 

 tivation, and that once his marks are known there will 

 arise a demand for them which will show eventually a 

 " marked " difference on the right side of his ledger. 



Cacao plants in their younger stages are certainly 

 benefited by intermediate cultivation between the rows of 

 trees, provided the cultivator does not go near enough to 

 injure the roots of the cacao. Planters who reside upon 

 their estates — as all should do who are earnest in seeking 

 for success — should endeavour to plant " catch crops " of 



