Edible Products. 



142 



[February, 1909. 



The results clearly show the value of 

 manures for cacao. During five years, 

 the use of phosphate and potash has 

 increased the yield of dry cacao 219 lb. 

 per acre per annum over the yield of the 

 plot receiving no manure. Similarly, 

 the use of dried blood, primarily a nitro- 

 genous manure, has increased the yield 

 by 187 lb., while the combination of the 



two sets of manure {i.e., phosphate, 

 potash and dried blood) has increased 

 the yield by 374 lb. The mulching has 

 shown the greatest gain, namely 402 lb. 

 per acre per annnm. 



By putting the moderate valuation of 

 6d. per lb. on cured cacao, a figure much 

 below market value, we may obtain an 

 idea of the monetary aspect of the case : — 



Plot. 



Average 

 annual 

 yield per 

 acre of 

 cured 

 cacao 

 during 

 five years, 

 in pounds. 



Gain in dry 

 cacao per acre 



over no- 

 manure plot, 



in pounds. 



Value per 

 acre of 

 increase 

 over no- 

 manure 



plot, 

 at 6d. per 

 lb. of cured 

 cacao. 



Cost of 

 manure, 

 per acre. 



Gain 

 per acre 

 by 



manuring. 









s. d- 



s. 



d. 



s. d. 



1 ... 



1,037 













2 ... 



1,256 



219 



190 "' G 



45 



3 



64"' 3 



3 ... 



1,224 



187 



93 6 



36 







57 6 



4 ... 



1,411 



374 



187 



81 



3 



105 9 



5 ... 



1,439 



402 



201 9 



60 







141 



The above figures hardly do full justice to the full gain resulting from 

 mulching, the results of which are only apparent after some time. It is in- 

 teresting therefore to make a comparison based on last year's crop only :— 



Plot 



Yield 

 per acre 

 of cured 

 cacao, in 

 pounds, 



1906-7. 



Gain 

 per acre 

 over no- 

 manure 

 plot, in 

 pounds. 



Value 

 per acre 

 of increase 

 over no- 

 manure 

 plot. 



Cost of 

 manure, 

 per acre. 



Gain 

 or loss 

 per acre 

 by 



manuring. 

 1905-6, 









s. 



d. 





a. 



s. d. 



1 



1,095 















2 



1,285 



190 



95 ' 



' 



45 



"J 



+ 49 "' 9 



3 



1,134 



39 



19 



6 



36 





— 16 6 



4 



1,401 



366 



183 







81 



2 



+ 101 6 



5 



1,743 



648 



324 







60 





+ 264 



The last two tables should be studied 

 together. 



The mere consideration of the yield of 

 cacao does not fully explain the condition 

 of the plots and the changes taking 

 place thereon. 



When the general health and growth 

 of the trees on the plots are taken into 

 account, it is at once seen that the in- 

 dividual tr ees on the mulched plot are 

 much finer and are better developed 

 than those on the other plots ; the soil 

 also is better than that of any other 

 plot. It is moist, friable, and full of 

 humus, and in a better condition 

 generally, which would appear to ensure 

 good crops for some time to come. It is 



also significant that this plot is well 

 covered by trees planted at the rate of 

 108 per acre, while the plot receiving no 

 manure requires 178 trees per acre, or 

 nearly 70 per cent, more. 



Next in general health and condition 

 may be placed plot 4, which received 

 phosphate, potash, and dried blood. 

 This plot requires at the rate of 124 

 trees per acre to cover it. The number 

 of trees on the other plots is as follows : 

 Plot 3, 139 trees per acre ; plot 2, 155 

 trees per acre ; and plot 1, 178 trees per 

 acre. 



As the general rule of these experi- 

 ments, planters are recommended to 

 manure their cacao trees. 



