COCOA AXD CHOCOLATE. 



chief harvests, usually in early spring, but this is different for different 

 countries. 



As a great many erroneous statements have been made in regard to 

 the average yield of cocoa plantations, from which we draw our supplies 

 of crude cocoa, we have been at some pains to procure accurate infor- 

 mation on that point for a period of five years. 



Taking twelve cocoa estates in Surinam, containing 1,354 nec ~ 

 tares, or 3,385 acres, the crop during the years 1897 to 1901 

 inclusive amounted to 3,672,283 kilos, or 8,079,023 pounds. The 

 crops varied for the different years from 1,263,426 pounds to 2,174,639 

 pounds. The average yield per acre per year was 477^00 pounds. 

 On the basis of 200 trees to the acre this would show an average yield 

 of about 2% pounds to a tree. By actual count of seven pods taken with- 

 out selection it was found 

 that the average number of 

 beans in a pod was 38. 



In an essay (1902) on 

 the cultivation of cacao, 

 for the use of planters in 

 the Philippines, Mr. Wm. 

 S. Lyon, in charge of 

 Seed and Plant Introduc- 

 tion, says : 



" In Camerouns, Dr. 

 Preuss, a close and well- 

 trained observer, gives 

 the mean annual yield of 

 trees of full bearing age 

 at 4.4 pounds. 



" Mr. Rousselot places 

 the yield on the French 

 Congo at the same figure. 



COCOA PODS. 



