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Islands): Mr. Chairman—I should like to ask Professor 
Carmody in relation to the very interesting results from 
Trinidad, showing the natural yield of ten adjacent plots, 
_whether there is any record of the source of the seeds from 
which the various plots, Nos. I to 10, were obtained. If it 
is the case that there is an enormous difference of yield in 
terms of pods per tree, amounting in the case of plot No. 1 
to 798, and in the case of No. g to 2,201, it would be in- 
teresting to know whether it was a case of variation in the 
seed. In the Leeward Islands, where we have had a set of 
manurial experiments, we did not find when the experiments 
were first commenced any great difference shown in that case, 
so that in the instance given by Professor Carmody there is 
rather a remarkable difference to account for. Another point 
is this—in relation to the return of yields from cocoa plants 
in terms of pods or lbs. of cocoa per tree, we find that the actual 
number of trees per plot must vary to a considerable extent 
on account of the actual fertility conditions of the plot itself— 
that is to say, a plant in thoroughly good heart will start in 
full bearing even on a plot in which the fertility of the land 
is not high. Also it will depend to a certain extent on the 
actual physical type of soil. For that reason we have during 
the past two years abandoned the idea of returning the results 
in pods or lbs. of cocoa per tree, and have made our returns in 
lbs. per acre, an attempt being made in each case to ascertain 
the best number of trees which will fully cover the ground in 
the cocoa plantations without overcrowding or leaving undue 
gaps, and in that way we have arrived at a fairly satisfactory 
way of returning results from our experiments. 
Monsieur E. Batttaup (Secretary, Colonial Institute, 
Marseilles): The difference of yield in different plots has been 
mentioned. May I ask if any experiments have been made 
with a view to correlating the yield with the physical condition 
and chemical composition of the soil? 
Professor P. Carmopy: In answer to the last question I 
would say this—that the area does not exceed two acres 
altogether in ten plots—that is, 500 trees on about two acres 
of ground, and that the mechanical analysis of the soil shows 
that the plots are exactly alike, or as nearly alike as plots can 
be. The field was chosen at the foot of a hill, and planters 
whom we have taken to the plot have all agreed that the soil 
is of uniform quality. Our chemical and mechanical analyses 
both point to that. 
With regard to what Mr. Tempany said as to the seed that 
was sown on these plots I need not remind him, as he comes 
from the West Indies, of the conditions under which cocoa is 
