2 1 2 The Fermentation of Cacao 



from which signs of mildew have disappeared, 

 except in very badly mildewed cacao, where 

 evidences of it may still be seen persisting in 

 the deeper wrinkles of the seed. When sun- 

 drying is relied on, it is necessary that polish- 

 ing should not be continued much after mid- 

 day, in order that the seed may receive 

 sufficient sun heat when replaced on the 

 drying floor to preserve their gloss and obviate 

 any further chance of mildew during the night, 

 which would entail another "dancing" next 

 day. It is a tedious, annoying, wasteful and 

 unprogressive manner of effecting work which 

 can be as efficiently done in ten minutes by a 

 machine at a saving in expense, an improve- 

 ment in the product, economy of supervision, 

 and the liberation of many workers for more 

 useful estate work. 



MACHINE POLISHERS. 



Within the past three years two machines 

 for polishing cacao have been placed on the 

 market, both of which have proved their capa- 

 bility of polishing from two to two and a half 

 bags (of 200 Ib. dry weight) of cacao in ten 

 minutes ; there are also smaller hand machines 

 of the same types, the utility of which is as yet 

 doubtful. The* two successful machines are 

 both worked by small oil engines, or any other 

 available power. 



The Malms-Smith Polisher consists of a 

 wooden cylinder to which, by means of a 



