173 



For a boiler that is 22 inches in diameter by 12 inches deep 

 about 400 of the longest pods are put into a basket, and the whole 

 plunged into the hot water for ten seconds. 



After an interval of half a minute clip the pods again into the 

 water, and keep them there for twelve seconds. After another 

 half minute, dip them a third time for fifteen seconds. 



Let the water drain off from the pods. 



Lot number 2 is similarly treated, and for them the water may 

 be a few degrees cooler, or the dipping times a trifle shortened ; 

 and so also with lot No. 3, while No. 4 may be treated as No. 2. 



The heat IQ0° F. is not absolutely essential, but is about as 

 high as it is safe to go; while even the longest pods may be ade- 

 quately treated in water at 170° F. if they are kept in it long- 

 enough. Where small quantities are dealt with less heat is 



needed. 



SWEATING. 



After the third dip when most of the water has drained off, the 

 pods are placed in a wooden box or barrel lined with blankets and 

 are closely covered up with the same material. 



It is best to have good sized boxes or barrels to sweat the pods 

 in, those holding 2,000 or 3,000 each being preferable, for the more 

 pods there are together the better heat is retained. 



The lots (1,2, 3, and 4) should be kept apart, a fold of blanket 

 being laid on each, if all go into one box. 



By the following morning they should have changed to choco- 

 late or puce colour, and are then ready to spread on the drying- 

 shelves ; but if there is a large number together, and the heat has 

 been well kept in, they may be kept for another twenty-four 



hours. 



DRYING. 



Tbe pods are dried by being placed in a single layer between 

 blankets in the sun on wooden trays. The trays should be sup- 

 ported to keep them off the ground'. 



If sunshine is continuous, the trays are taken it at the hottest 

 part of the day. 



A good average heat is 1 10° F. A few degrees more or less 

 does not matter, but pods are apt to dry too quickly if the heat is 

 much greater. The slower the process the more uniform and 

 better is the result. After some days as they begin to turn soft 

 and show longitudinal wrinkles the pods should only be exposed 

 to the sun at cooler times of the day, so that the temperature is 

 from 90° to loo' F. ; and after reaching a certain degree of 

 flexibility (in six to eight days) they should not be put in the sun 

 at all, but kept on the trays in a covered shed at ordinary 

 temperature for about a month. The pods should be turned 

 frequently, so that they dry evenly. If kept too long in the sun, the 

 thin ends of the pods shrink too quickly, and this is to be avoided, 

 although it can not be avoided in the case of inferior, ill-nourish:d 

 pods. In unsettled weather showers have to be watched for, and 

 the trays carried under shelter till the weather again becomes fair. 



When fully cured, the pods are much wrinkled and pliable, 



