157 



The Ceylon beans have been well washed and the integuments, 

 having the minimum pulp and dirt, weigh less than other kinds ; 

 the integuments of Ceylon beans constitute from 8 to ro per cent. 

 of the total weight of the cured bean. 



It is obvious from the foregoing figures that in Ceylon there is 

 a wide variation in the average weight of cured beans from fruits 

 of different varieties, hence those with the minimum weight must 

 either bear better cocoa, be more suitable for cultivation, or give 

 larger crops of fruit ; otherwise they should be eliminated in the 

 selection of seed parents. It has also been shown that the different 

 varieties have constant characters in the thickness or weight of 

 the skin, cuticle, or integument surrrounding the seeds ; those 

 rarieties having the larger proportion of integument are obviously 

 inferior. 



NUMBER OF SEEDS IN FRUITS. 



It is now necessary for us to determine the average number of 

 seeds per fruit and the average number of fruits borne by the 

 different varieties. 



The number of seeds per fruit varies considerably, but the fol- 

 lowing table indicates possible averages : — 



TABLE V. 



Variety. 



Amelonado 

 Caracas 

 Nicaraguan 

 Cundeamor 



Range in number 



of seeds per 



fruit. 



Average number 



of seeds per 



fruit. 



16 to 52 



16 to 42 



24 to 36 



21 to 50 



40-87 

 31 '45 

 28 

 36-26 



If the figures on tables I, III, and V, be compared, it will be 

 noticed that the Nicaraguan and Caracas types have the heaviest 

 seeds and lightest integuments respectively, but produce a lower 

 average number of seeds, per fruit, than the Amelonado or Foras- 

 tero-Cundeamor types. The Amelonado fruits contain the maxi- 

 mum number of seeds, but the latter are very light in weight and 

 have comparatively heavy integuments. These results prove that 

 in weight of cured cocoa from 100 fruits, integuments and kernels 

 together, the Amelonado often comes first. 



