HOW JOSE FORMED HIS " COCOA " ESTATE 295 



are bad. If you have spare land bounding with your estate you may give 

 contracts for only three years. The oontraotors then would not have the 

 chance of selling cocoa, because the contracts would not be at the bearing stage. 

 Contractors who have bearing contracts generally do not know their boundaries 

 and make the ' mistake ' of mixing your estates' pods with their own.* If you 

 have only virgin land you can give contracts for five years, but be particular to 

 have the land lined and picketed for them at your desired space, otherwise they 

 will plant the cocoa nursery-like, the reason being to get the greatest quantity 

 of trees possible. You must see that they put the immortelle at their proper 

 distances also. For myself, Paysano, I prefer to plant the land myself. You 

 reap the provisions and the cocoa grows. It is only a question of time and 

 patience. The ground provisions reaped are more than ample to pay for the 

 cleaning. Besides you save the trouble of a doubtful co-partner. Look at 

 poor Jean Fran9oi3 who owns the neighbouring San Fa^on estate. He is always 

 in the Courts with his contractors. He bought the land, felled it, made drains, 

 killed the bachaco for the contractors, and still they are not satisfied. If one 

 can do all these things, Amiga, what more remains to be done ? Plant the land, 

 of course ! I would do that myself ; with two cleanings the trouble would 

 be over. 



" No, Senor, Mi Amor was not formed by contractors. Adios." 



* But too true.— J. H. H. 



