12 TlMEHRI. 
and often killing them. As these ants pursue their harm- 
ful work throughout the year, every means must be 
taken to destroy them. This can be effectually done by 
ploughing up the nests till the bottom is reached and 
constantly pouring on water, stirring continuously until 
the whole is in a semi-fluid state. The ants cannot 
escape then, and this operation must be repeated till they 
are all destroyed. The second species which is not so 
dangerous, makes its nest between the branches of the 
tree, and by covering the bark often for a considerable 
space prevents the flowering and consequently the 
formation of fruit. The nests must be carefully removed 
and burned. Wood ants — the third variety — which also 
make their nests on the trees, are killed by scattering 
arsenic in the nest. 
Cocoa blossoms throughout the year, except in Sep- 
tember and October, but especially during November and 
the beginning of December. Cold nights dry up and 
harden the blossoms and young fruits on the trees. The 
ripe fruit is gathered more or less the whole year through ; 
the chief crop, however, is plucked during the months of 
May, June and December. The pods are collected by 
cutting the stalk with a cutlass or, where the fruits 
cannot be reached, with a hook on a pole. The fruits 
are generally opened in the field with a cutlass, care 
being taken not to touch the beans; these are put in 
baskets ; the empty shells are heaped in the middle of the 
beds and left there to rot, and serve as manure. It, 
would perhaps be still better if these shells were buried, 
as is done with trash on sugar estates, instead of leaving 
them exposed to the rain, which washes down a great deal 
