SHADING CACAO 49 



wood is soft and of no value for fuel or timber. The 

 " saman," in the author's view, is a better all-round tree 

 for shade than the " mortel," and affords a valuable, 

 handsome, dark-grained wood, which is worked up into 

 high-class furniture. In Nicaragua cross-sections of the 

 trunks are in universal use as wheels for ox-carts, the tree 

 growing to 6 or 8 ft. in diameter. 



Still, it is almost treason to suggest anything else for 

 cacao shade in Trinidad than the " mortel," to planters 

 who have used it for generations ; and if they wish to 

 stick to the " old bridge " of a previous page, why they 

 will come to little harm in doing so, although they might 

 come to less if they used the " saman." 



That better trees than the soft- wooded " mortel " can 

 be found is not to be doubted ; they have not yet been 

 found however, but if found and used, the value of an 

 estate shaded with such trees must necessarily be increased. 



To the present, however, the " mortels " still retain 

 their place as premier shade in Trinidad, and the " madera " 

 in Nicaragua. Many trees which have been suggested 

 from time to time as alternatives for shade purposes have, 

 like the " mortel," no economic value ; and others of 

 economic value have been tried, but their position at 

 present is not a certain one. 



The Central American rubber-tree, Castilloa elastica, 

 has been suggested as a shade for cacao, but reports from 

 estates where it has been tried on a large scale do riot inspire 

 confidence in its value for this purpose. The Para rubber- 

 tree has also been recommended for the purpose. Person- 

 ally the writer is not able to commend its use. 



Having decided what permanent shade to use, the 

 cultivator should decide upon his distances, &c., and plant 

 it before, or at the time, he plants his cacao — before if 

 possible. The usual distances are 35 ft. to 40 ft. apart 

 each way for the " bocare " ; 40 ft. to 45 ft. apart for the 

 " Anauca," and as much as 50 ft. to 60 ft. or more for the 

 " saman." Primary shade, or that used for covering in 

 and rearing the young plants, should be amply supplied. 



