COCOA 197 



follows that 100 Ib. of wet cocoa can be dried in the sua 

 at a cost of gd. only. Cocoa loses approximately 50 per 

 cent, of its weight in the drying process. The cost of 

 drying cocoa in the machine and in the sun is therefore 

 |d. and -Jd. per Ib. respectively. 



In these calculations the cost of wood fuel is not taken 

 into consideration, for there is an abundance of timber 

 in the neighbourhood of the Experiment Station, and one 

 of the labourers attending the machine is able to keep the 

 furnace supplied. 



It is necessary to emphasize the fact that it is not 

 desired to obtain a machine for curing cocoa during fine 

 weather, such as that which obtained when the machine 

 was tested, but for use in wet weather, when it is nexf 

 to impossible to dry cocoa properly without the aid of 

 artificial heat. 



Four samples of the cocoa prepared during these 

 experiments, as well as a sample of good, average quality 

 cocoa produced on a native farm in the same district, 

 were sent to the Imperial Institute to be examined and 

 valued. At the time the samples in question were valued, 

 West African cocoa was quoted in Liverpool at 515. 6d. 

 to 555. 3d. per cwt. 



Sample No. i, which was transferred direct from the 

 fermenting boxes to the drying machine and dried for 

 fifteen hours, was valued at 575. per cwt. 



Sample No. 2, which was first dried in the sun for two 

 hours and then machine dried for fourteen hours, was 

 valued at 54s. 6d. to 555. 6d. per cwt. 



Sample No. 3, which was sun dried for three hours, 

 then machine dried for nine hours, was valued at 6is. 

 per cwt. 



Sample No. 4, which was sun dried only, was valued 

 at 6os. per cwt. 



Sample No. 5, which was prepared on a native farm, 

 was valued at 565. per cwt. 



The Imperial Institute report on these samples states 

 that samples Nos. i and 2 appeared to have suffered from 

 over-drying, and this is probably the reason for their 

 being given a lower valuation than No. 3. It is interest- 

 ing to note that Nos. 3 and 4 were valued at prices similar 



