116 



After dancing with clay the drying floor should be well scraped to 

 remove the mixture of clay and mucilage which usually collects on it. 

 [f this point he not attended to the floor will be observed to be quite 

 damp on the following morning, which is due to fermentation and 

 decomposition of this mixture, and the quality of the cacao will 

 suffer. 



The expense of treatment by the process now described, above 

 ordinary methods is but trifling, and well repays the planter in returns 

 obtained. 



Cacao prepared by this method keeps better, owing to the clay and 

 mucilage forming a thin protective coating which prevents the attack 

 of mould fungi. It carries better, and breaks less in the bags, as the 

 strong binding of mucilage makes the skin of the bean better able to 

 resist pressure. That, the method is appreciated by buyers is shown 

 by the produce generally bringing higher prices than unclayed Cacao. 



Samples of " Good ordinary " prepared after this method by the 

 writer recently sold locally at $13 60 per fanega of 110 lbs. and 

 expert opinion of their value is published in this issue under article 

 No. 625. 



J. C. A., River Estate. 



JsXKc^o 



