224 CACAO 



budding grafting), materially to increase the annual yield, 

 leaving out all reference to increase by manuring. 



The question which originated the table was also noted 

 by the Tropical Agriculturist of Ceylon, a valuable paper 

 always on the qui vive for information on cacao matters, 

 and reference was made by the editor to Wright's work, 

 in which various interesting estimates and returns of yield 

 are to be found, which the author modestly terms a 

 " synoptical account of the results which have been 

 published." He says : 



The average cacao estate possesses from 200 to 300 trees per acre, and an 

 annual yield of from less than one to over five pounds of dry cacao per acre 

 has been recorded. The cacao-trees may begm to bear flowers and fruits in 

 their third and fourth years, but it is usually considered advisable to prune 

 all the flowers which occur in the flrst blossom ; this prevents the concentra- 

 tion of valuable mineral and proteid constituents in the seeds and allows these 

 materials to be used in the development of a better vegetative system, from 

 which heavier crops may be subsequently expected. Many planters consider 

 that the fruits borne on the main tnmk are better in quality and weight than 

 those on branches, and on estates where the development of a single or main 

 stem with the minimum number of branches and suckers is aimed at, these 

 diflterences appear to require consideration. 



Personally, the writer is of opinion that the pods which 

 are nearest to that section of the tree which has the best 

 circulation of sap will have the advantage over those 

 where the wood is old and hard and the growth stunted ; 

 but when the whole plant is healthy and vigorous, little, 

 if any, difference in rate of growth will be observable, or 

 in weight and quality, 



Mr. Wright's returns of yield are very interesting, but 

 it would not be just to quote them in detached portions, 

 as their value can only be estimated by consulting the 

 pages of his book, where they are arranged in due order 

 for comparison. At page 194, however, he gives a table of 

 yield per tree, taken from various sources as follows, which 

 I may quote, as it gives returns comparative with Trinidad 

 yields : 



Nicaragua 

 Ecuador 



Surinam 

 Mexico 



1 lb. per tree per annum. 



. lib. 

 IJ to 2 lb. special trees 

 1"5 Kg. to 3 and 4 Kg. 

 5 to 8 lb. 

 IJ lb. (Christmas yield). 



