292 CACAO 



labourer for this. I always gather the grass, the dry leaves, and spread evenly. 

 These in time vrill rot and be converted into manure. In four months' time 

 I had my second cleaning done. 



8. Toung Cocoa-trees. — " Young cocoa-trees require constant light trimming 

 so that they may grow nicely and make fine trees. The lianes which envelop 

 them must be removed, and the fig-trees around them must be cleared of all 

 dead leaves so as to give ventilation. When the figs are clustered they do not 

 bear well. Some planters, amigo, through lack of means or other reasons have 

 recourse to ' reundiaing.' 1 do not recommend this process as the nourishment 

 of the trees is thereby removed. It is certainly better than leaving the young 

 trees in high bush. This ' reundiaing,' or round-ridging, is done at a distance 

 of 3 feet around the tree. In cleaning young plantations some modem planters, 

 I now observe, accumulate the grass, rubbish, &c., in the middle of a row. 

 I always prefer to spread my rubbish evenly over the cleaned ground,* as this 

 prevents bad grass from growing rapidly, whereas by the atcamillonar system, 

 certain parts after the cleaning, or rather scraping, process, remain exposed, 

 an easy invitation to pop up the vexatious caniboot, and the undesirable gamelotte. 



9. Pests, <fcc. — " When young, the ooooa-trees are often attacked by the 

 beetle. I can easily discover the glue-like spots on the trees where the beetle 

 had been and deposited its eggs. I have found out that the best time to destroy 

 these glue-like spots is early in the morning or late in the evening. At these 

 times one is likely to come across the beetle itself. For myself, I prefer in the 

 morning — I speak by experience — for in the evening with my aguadiente 

 espejuelo on, 1 might see too many beetles. 



" My small estate being on the high road to its bearing stage, I had a, few 

 weeks' rest ; during that time I had a look right round the plantation. I 

 observed that the rastrojo and some high woods surrounding it somewhat 

 prevented ventilation. X made what is called a border. Borders around an 

 estate is quite obligatory. The manicou, squirrel, rats, and snakes do not like 

 this clear space around a plantation. These animals are pests, as every planter 

 knows. I forgot to mention the bachaco. Ah, Amigo ! long ago this pest 

 gave us battle, but nowadays — who invented it, but it came as a blessing — a 

 sort of fluid, Senor, which destroys them instantly. It goes under different 

 names, viz.. Vino de Bachaco, Calypso, Fuma, Baohaoticide, &c. &c. You 

 will find directions for using it on the bottle. 



10. " Chupons " or Suckers. — " The pruning or removing of ' chupons,' &c., 

 on a cocoa-tree requires some skill. This is done a few months after the field 

 has been trimmed. By that time the ' chupons ' and the ' palmas ' have grown 

 to a certain size. Some ' palmas ' would grow into good branches and some- 

 times they grow in clusters. A steady hand, therefore, is required, and skill 

 to select for removing the undesirables — ^I have always ' chuponeered ' three 

 months after my field had been trimmed, as by that time one can distinguish 

 a 'chupon' from a ' palma.' Doing this piece of work earlier I consider 

 inadvisable. For instance, the ' palma volada ' which comes out on any part 

 of the tree can easily be taken for a real branch when younger than three 

 months. Some planters now leave the ' chupons ' and the ' palmas ' alone. 

 I suppose their argument is that the cocoa- tree is like any other tree, and will 

 in time give a good account of itself. I do not think so, and do not advise 

 my friends to believe in this outrageous doctrine. The very name ' chupon ' 

 or sucker suggests its character. A field planted 12 by 12 in the ordinary way 

 would not leave enough space for the ' chupons ' to turn into good trees. I tell 

 you. Socio, they can be left only where you have ' peladeros ' or bare spots, 

 as the trees are a long way from each other. 



11. Drains. — " I had now to consider the question of drains. In the hills 

 drains are not required. They are essential in the vegas, as water from the 

 uplands around will inundate the vegetation, thereby injuring it. The water 



* Equals mulching, no now thing. — J. H. H. 



