Preface xiii. 



of cacao known on the market. Alterations 

 that might be made in ordinary methods so as 

 to improve the quality of the cacao should be 

 explained. Waste products should be con- 

 sidered, and their potential value indicated." 



Of the essays sent in for competition, only 

 the joint one by Mr. Geo. Hudson, of " Errard 

 Estate," St. Lucia (W.I.), and Dr. Lucius 

 Nicholls, attached, at the time, to the Govern- 

 ment service in that island, satisfactorily ful- 

 filled the terms of the competition so as to 

 render its publication of use and interest. 

 This essay, as will be noticed, is divided into 

 two chapters, say Chapter VI, by Mr. Hudson 

 (see p. 153), dealing with practical estate work, 

 and Chapter VII (p. 221), contributed by Dr. 

 Lucius Nicholls, containing the biological and 

 chemical part of the work. 



In order to reach the subject intimately in 

 all its aspects, the authors felt that some such 

 collaboration between a scientist and a planter 

 was essential, and therefore sent in a joint 

 essay. Being awarded the ^50 prize proves 

 their judgment to have been correct. 



In declaring Mr. Hudson and Dr. Nicholls 

 to be deserving of receiving the ^50, Mr. 

 Fawcett wrote as follows : 



" LONDON, 



"March 13, 1912. 



" DEAR SIR, I have now gone through the 

 Essays on the Fermentation and Curing of 



