98 



few inches apart, and the strongest plant only should be allowed 

 to remain. Seeds may also be sown singly in bamboo pots, from 

 which they can be readily transplanted when large enough into 

 their permanent places. 



In the island of St. Thomas, on the older estates, three seeds 

 are planted in a Palm-leaf basket, and the plants are transplanted 

 when they are from 2 to 3 feet high. On the more modern 

 plantations the land is first prepared by cutting down the trees 

 and brushwood, which are afterwards burnt. The seeds are then 

 planted in the ground among bananas (Cons. Rep. Ann. No. 3928, 

 Angola, Sept. 1907, p. 33). 



It has always been a matter of some difficulty to convey seeds, 

 except for very short distances, from place to place, and at the 

 same time to preserve their germinating power. The usual 

 method of distribution is by means of young plants in Wardian 

 Cases. A method of conveying the seeds was recently tested at 

 Kew and found successful. It consists of packing the seeds, 

 from which the pulp has been for the most part removed, in 

 material composed of equal parts of moist vegetable mould and 

 finely ground or powdered charcoal (see Kew Bull. 1907, p. 297). 

 For short distances, as a rule not extending over 10 or 14 days, 

 seeds may be conveyed in the pods. It has been found, however, 

 that seeds will germinate freely after being preserved in the pod 

 for 17 days. In 1907 a consignment of 60 pods were sent from 

 the Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad, to the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens, Kew. They were despatched on the 24th June, 1907, 

 and received at Kew on the 10th July. Nearly 100 per cent, of 

 the seeds taken from clean pods germinated, and about 50 per 

 cent, of those from pods Avhich had gone mouldy. 



Propagation by grafting has during the last few years been the 

 subject of some experiments in various places. Hart (Trinidad) 

 claims to have discovered in 1898 that Cacao can easily be grafted 

 by approach or inarching. Jones (Dominica) finds that " Alligator 

 Cacao" (Theobroma pentagoyia) united successfully on stocks of 

 "Forastero," but that with stocks of "Tiger Cacao" (Theobroma 

 bicolor) they were not successful. Evans (Gold Coast) reports the 

 successful grafting of T. pentagona on to " Forastero " stocks 

 (Report of the Bot. and Agric. Dept. Gold Coast, 1906, p. 10). 



For purposes of shade in the early stages, plantains, bananas, 

 maize, pigeon pea, cassava, castor oil, &c, might be used, and for 

 permanent shade, the " Bois Immortel " (Erythrina umbrosa) ; 

 Erythrina lithosperrna ; "Madera" (Gliricidia maculata) — used 

 for this purpose in Nicaragua, planted from seed about 13 feet 

 apart, and allowed to grow for 18 months or 2 years before the 

 cocoa is put in (Agric. News, Barbados, 1904, p. 135) ; and Guango 

 (Pithecololdum Samari), planted 50-63 feet apart (Bull. Dept. 

 Agric, Jamaica, 1903, p. 121). Various rubber trees, &c, have 

 also been recommended. Among indigenous trees the Oil Palm 

 (Elaeis guineensis), " Opachala " (Pentaclethra macrophylla) 

 " Nete " (Parkia afrlcana) may be mentioned as being suitable 

 for the purpose. Selection of the right plant, however, must be 

 made according to local conditions. It may, in some localities, be 



