CHAPTER XXII 



TRANSPORT OP CACAO PLANTS AND SEEDS 



Cacao planters are often requisitioned for supplies of seeds 

 and plants required in new countries where cultivation of 

 this tree is being tried on a 

 commercial scale. During 

 the writer's official service 

 in Trinidad numerous like 

 applications were received 

 and dealt with by the 

 department under his 

 charge. Cacao plants and 

 seeds are difficult to trans- 

 port on account of their 

 fugitive vitality, for too 

 much, or too little, Hght, 

 moisture or heat will 

 readily cause destruction, 

 and an hour in a low tem- 

 perature has been known 

 to destroy a whole con- 

 signment. Correspon- 

 dents have, more than 



once, been known to complain of consignments sent by 

 planters from Trinidad as having arrived at destination 

 " utterly useless owing to the long transit." Having 

 successfully sent plants and seeds over the same line of 

 route, the writer is of opinion that the failure was not due 

 to the length of the journey, but to defaults in picking 

 and packing ; and to the season chosen for transport. 



Home friends unacquainted with tropical plants are apt 



263 



Fig. 62.— a Wardian Case. 



