212 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the lime in the slag liberates the ammonia in the sulphate of ammonia ; 

 but if the basic slag is applied first, and the sulphate of ammonia shortly 

 afterwards, no loss of nitrogen need be feared. 



Judging from the results obtained in the various cacao-growing 

 districts, there can be no doubt that by judicious manuring not only are 

 the yields of the cacao tree profitably increased, but a quick and strong 

 development of the cacao tree is ensured, in consequence of which the 

 trees give a fair crop at an earlier age, are better able to overcome injurious 

 influences, and maintain their bearing capacity for a longer period than 

 when not properly manured, thus greatly diminishing the risks which are 

 said to be attached to the cultivation of cacao. 



Mr. B. Bernard Acham, Saint Isidore Estate, Trinidad, in commenting 

 on the paper, said : I am in accord with the lecturer on the question of 

 manuring, and I have little doubt that Trinidad could considerably 

 increase her cacao yield if our planters would only adopt an effective 

 system of manuring and thin out the excessive shade on their estates. 

 I may mention that I intend visiting Grenada to study her system of 

 shade and manuring, and it is possible that I may go to Dominica as w r ell. 

 There is no denying the fact that Grenada beats us in yield on a soil 

 which, generally speaking, is not equal to ours in fertility, but in discussing 

 the extent of her yield one must not forget that more trees are planted to 

 the acre than in Trinidad. 



As regards the question of grafting, it is not at all easy to say that it 

 can be profitably adopted and practised on an estate which is not con- 

 ducted for experimental purposes only. I fear that for some time the 

 grafting of cacao will remain at the experimental stage. In any case, 

 so long as we plant the Forastero in Trinidad the question of grafting 

 will never present itself as an insistent need with us. I am a good deal 

 interested in the idea of vacuum-drying for cacao. Generally speaking, 

 I do not know that artificial drying will be much practised in Trinidad ; 

 there is a prejudice against it, and the tendency of our rainfall to decrease 

 also tends to lessen the necessity of resorting to artificial means for 

 drying. 



Concerning the vexed question of cacao shade, as I have stated else- 

 where, I do not know that Mr. Barrett is not right if the matter is 

 considered in the light of principle. I think Mr. Barrett is correct when 

 he asserts that the cacao tree per se does not require shade. Unless 

 botanical learning is a snare and a delusion, a green-leaved plant, generally 

 speaking, needs sunshine to do its work of growth and fruitage ; and so 

 long as the cacao tree decides to remain a green-leaved tree, sunshine it 

 must have. It is true that no estate in Trinidad has ever been planted 

 without shade ; and the shade-zealots, confounding Trinidad with the 

 rest of the world, are apt to cry out that a cacao tree cannot grow 

 without shade. But there is Grenada, where cacao is grown without 

 ■hade. I know the stock reply that Trinidad is not Grenada; and, 

 whilst I believe, as everyone must believe, in the fact and potency 

 of environment, I refuse to see any abnormal or specific difference 

 between the conditions of Trinidad and the conditions of Grenada in 

 relation to cacao culture. In listening to the people who raise the cry 

 of iJistinguo, one sometimes fancies that Grenada must be somewhere in 



