CHAPTER XVIII 



YIELD, VALUE AND PRICES OF CACAO 



The yield per tree depends, first, upon the character of 

 the tree, and, secondly, upon the quality of the land in 

 which it is planted. Some trees naturally yield more than 

 others, as may be seen in fruit orchards in any part of the 

 world, the aim of the cultivator being to secure types 

 which yield well. How to secure such trees has already 

 been discussed. That yield can be increased by manuring 

 is certain, where the condition of the soil is such as to 

 allow it ; but to force trees with too much manuring tends 

 to shorten their period of existence. Sufficient manure is 

 good practice, over-abundance is bad. The yield per 1000 

 trees is probably the best test of the value of estates, 

 especially if the records have been reliably kept and the 

 seller is able to give authentic reference to crops harvested 

 during a period of years. 



Trees of the same size, planted side by side, will largely 

 differ in yield when only seedlings are used. The maximum 

 yield of some seedlings will not be more than 1 lb. of dry 

 cacao annually, while others have been known by the 

 writer to yield as much as 15 lb. 3 oz. annually of dry 

 cacao, and others have recorded as much as 30 lb. per tree. 

 From this it has been deduced that, given trees of special 

 character, the annual crop might be easily increased. 



In the Bulletin of the Botanical Department of Trinidad, 

 April 1907, I asked the question, "What is the possible 

 crop of a tree in full bearing ? " and suggested that careful 

 observations should be made by planters, under which the 

 number of pods picked from selected trees should be 

 recorded. This was taken up by a leading Trinidad 



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