Cocoa And Chocolate
The Tree, The Bean The Beverage

38 THE COCOA AND CHOCOLATE INDUSTRY being done to determine whether the seeds of heavy bearers will produce trees giving heavy yields, or whether better results can be obtained by budding heavy bearers on hardy Stocks (Calabacillo). It would appear to be possible by budding to increase the present average yield per annum of about 20 pods to the tree to four times this number. Until this is conclusively proved it is unlikely that planters themselves will try budding or grafting on a large scale, as it is said to be ten times as expensive as planting seed. The production from seed, however, is uncertain, as the tree produced may resemble one of its “ grandparents ” or “ great-grandparents ” more than its “ parents.” On the other hånd, with budding it would be possible to produce a set of trees giving beans of exactly similar character, and everyone knows the high value put on a uniform product in the commercial world. The objection of expense, moreover, is almost removed if the budding is done, as in Trinidad, on a large scale by the Agricultural Department, and the budded plants purchased by the planter. On Mr. R. McLean’s estate in Los Bajos (Trinidad) there are 4,000 budded cacao plants, propagated from those trees on the Government Estate which gave at least 80 pods per tree. The first lot were planted at the end of 1918, and came into bearing in 1922. The record of the yields are looked forward to with great interest. Cacao may either be planted at the stäke, or first grown in a nursery and transplanted. In either case a hole 2 ft. cube is dug and filled with top soil. In the first method, when the soil has settled, three or four seeds are put in, all save the healthiest plant being removed later. If grown in a nursery the seeds are set about 1 ft. apart, or planted in bamboo pots or in plaited coconut palm leaves. This means considerable labour ;