147 



Edible Products. 



A few years ago coffee was largely cultivated in Akim ; this has now 

 been abandoned, and* cocoa farms, principally of young trees, and cocoa drying 

 platforms were seen all along the route. Carriers conveying cocoa were even met 

 coming from Okwawu where this cultivation has also extended. 



Cola trees were first observed at Tafu, and occured at intervals until 

 Kwaben was reached, their distribution being similar to the unplanted oil-palms, 

 in some instances numerous, in others scarce. Those growing in the forest had 

 long slender trunks whereas those found in cleared areas were sturdy branch- 

 ing trees, f Occasionally cocoa was observed planted around the cola trees, appearing 

 as though the latter had been planted as shade for the former. Numerous 

 natives from German Togoland were met with in the cocoa districts, some stated 

 they had been working in the cocoa plantations as hired labourers for several 

 years and understood the cultivation of this product ; they expressed their 

 willingness to return to their homes and start cocoa plantations provided they 

 were confident of the support of the German Government, and assurance of this 

 support was given them. 



II. Cocoa Cultivation by the Natives. 



The usual native method of establishing a cocoa farm is as follows : — 

 The bush is cut down and burnt, only surface roots and weeds are cleared away 

 and yams are then planted, cocoa not being planted until the yams have been 

 harvested. In the case of large plantations the clearing and weeding is carried out by 

 hired Togo or Krobo labourers who are paid 20,s. per acre for each of the following 

 works, viz : — cutting down bush, felling trees, and clearing. For succeeding weed- 

 ings which occur quarterly, 10.s. per acre is paid, but sowing and planting is done by 

 the owner. Cocoa is principally propagated by seeds which are either sown thickly 

 in seed-beds prepared in moist situations, often by the side of a brook, or directly 

 out in the plantation, two in each hole, when if both germinate the weaker is 

 cut away. 



The reason given for this latter method being that the plants transferred 

 from the seed-beds die if a period of dry weather follows their trans-planting, 

 for neither the seeds nor plants are watered ; but this is seldom necessary as 

 this operation takes place during the two rainy seasons (March — June and Sep- 

 tember — October.) Each land-owner has from 3,000 to 4,000 trees and some are 

 said to have as may as 10,000, while every school boy has his own cocoa farm 

 which he tends himself. The trees in many plantations are planted closely 

 together, usually only 8 or U feet apart, but the owners of old plantations 

 h ive observed that when trees are planted in this manner, the branches interlace 

 and the yield decreases ; consequently in new farms the trees are being planted 

 at from 11 to 12 feet apart. 



Tania is cultivated between the cocoa, but shade trees are not planted 

 although when the forest is cleared economic trees such as Funtumia rubber, 

 oil-palms, and cola are left standing and slight shade is unintentionally provided. 

 Small farms do not usually require shade trees as they are generally situated 

 near the edge of the forest which furnishes shade during a great part of the 

 day, and while the cocoa is young it receives shade from the tania. Little attention 

 is given to the young plantation beyond just clearing away weeds immediately 

 around the plants, and cutting away suckers. No steps are taken to destroy 

 pests ; the borer is the only one which has proved really troublesome and this 

 is present in nearly every plantation. Farmers have been cautioned to exterminate 

 it by the Botanic Department and by printed notices, but with no visible result. 

 The amount of cocoa produced is not appreciably affected by its attacks because 

 of the large number of new trees planted. 



