18 FARMERS' BULLETIN. 



the atmosphere and the size of the heap, and whenever the temperature 

 rises above 40 the mass is carefully turned over with wooden shovels. 



Immediately after the fermentation is completed the Ceylon planter 

 passes the mass through repeated washings, and nothing remains but to 

 dry the seed. This in Ceylon is very extensively done, in dryers of dif- 

 ferent kinds, some patterned after the American fruit dryer, some in 

 slowly rotating cylinders through the axis of which a powerful blast of 

 hot air is driven. 



The process of washing unquestionably diminishes somewhat the 

 weight of the cured bean; for that reason the practice is not generally 

 followed in other countries, but in the case of the Ceylon product it is 

 one of the contributing factors to the high prices obtained. 



ENEMIES AND DISEASES. 



