The Gathering of the Cacao, 



The gathering of the cacao takes place in the field and is 

 the first process to be attended to. The nut or fruit is ripe when 

 it has assumed a deep orange colour. You twist or knock off 

 the ripe nut, break it open on the spot and take out the con- 

 tents. The empty shells are left in heaps on the field to rot and 

 then serve as manure. The fresh cacao is collected in baskets, 

 hampers, coops and all kinds of vessels, and carried by the labou- 

 rers from the field to the sheds to be there measured, in order 

 to calculate the wages earned. This measuring is done in a tray 

 arranged for the purpose, and gives the manager at the same 

 time a standard for his estimates. If the trees bear profusely, an 

 able labourer can gather daily 80 or 100 kilogr. for which he 

 is paid 2 cents per kilo. *) 



To the gathering succeeds immediately: 



! ) On less favourable occasions the workmen are paid day-work. 



