76 CONSUMTTION IN THE V. STATES. 



Arabia supplies about 15 million Ibs., and St. Domingo, before the re- 

 volution, exported 70 million Ibs. annually. France probably now con- 

 sumes more than any other European nation. 



The consumption in the United States from 1821 up to 1831 was 

 nearly trebled. The value of imported coffee in 1840 was $8,546,222 

 and the amount continues to increase. From 1821, when the quantity 

 was 21,273,659 Ibs. the increase up to 1831 is shown by the imports of 

 the latter year which were 81,757,386 Ibs. In 1835 the amount was 

 103,199,577 Ibs. costing $10,715,466. It was less up to 1839 when it 

 rose to 106,696,992 Ibs. and in 1810 it was 94,996,095 Ibs. 



But we have constantly exported large amounts. In 1821 the ex- 

 ports were 9,337,596 Ibs. ; but averaging up to 1835 about one-third the 

 amount imported ; since which the exports have greatly decreased; 

 and, since 1837 they have been comparatively very small. The im- 

 ports from 1826 to 1832, both inclusive, were 418,667,681 Ibs. and from 

 1834 to 1840, 655,116,660, showing an increase during the last 7 years 

 of 236,448,979 Ibs. And there was a decrease in the amount of expor- 

 tations during the last period of 45,553,586 Ibs. which added to the 

 increased importations makes the increased consumption during the last 

 7 years over the first 7 of 282,002,565 Ibs. The amount consumed, 

 therefore, since 1833 has increased in the U. States over 101 percent., 

 while the price has increased both here and where the article is grown, 

 and while the increase in the population from 1830 to 1840 has been 

 but 39,9-lOth per cent. The average consumption of each person 

 from 1826 to 1832, according to the census of 1830, was 37-10 Ibs. per 

 annum, and that from 1834 to 1840, lakins the population of 1840, 

 would furnish each person 47-10 Ibs. This shows an increased con- 

 sumption during the latter period of 1 Ib. annually by each person. 



C. Arabica. Flowers 5 cleft, white, sessile, axillary, 4 or 5 to- 

 gether, sweet scented ; leaves oblong, accurninate ; peduncles axillary, 

 aggregate; berry dark red, oval, globular. Arab. 



CHOCOLATE NUT TREE, Theobroma cacao 

 C. 18, O. 1. Malvacae. DT. 2 sp. 16 ft from god 

 and/oorf. The tree is beautiful ; it is 5 or 6 inches 

 in diameter, and resembles the cherry or apple 

 tree, producing a smooth nut of the size of an al- 

 mond, in a pod having from 20 to 100. These oily 

 seeds are dried or roasted, ground to a powder, 

 made into a paste with sugar and water, or orange- 

 water and aromatic spices, then formed into cakes, exported and ex- 

 tensively used as a wholesome beverage. The covering of the nuts are 

 the shells, also much used. The cacao harvest is quite uncertain, but 

 one person is capable of taking care of 1000 trees, which yield annu- 

 ally on an average, about 18 bushels of the kernels. The tree is com- 

 mon to S. America and West Indies, and was cultivated under Monte- 



