CHAPTEK III 



THE CHEMISTRY OF COCOA AND COCOA SOILS 



IN this chapter the different chemical data in regard to 

 soil, plant and produce are stated as concisely as 

 possible ; but, as our knowledge of the various chemical 

 questions involved is very imperfect, the reader will 

 find that this compilation does not take the form of a 

 rounded-off survey. Moreover, the figures as to the 

 mineral constitution of soil and tree, though quite 

 reliable, have very little practical value, for it is a 

 mistake to imagine that a knowledge of these con- 

 stituents will give indications of any value as to the 

 manure required. As to the various and important 

 constituents of rather complicated composition, which 

 occur in the seed before and after fermentation, the 

 methods applied by different analysts often give dif- 

 ferent results, owing to several of the methods employed 

 being imperfect. Accordingly many of the figures about 

 the amount of these constituents must be accepted with 

 reserve. 



THE SOIL 



The question of the value of figures as to the 

 chemical constituents of a soil in giving an impression 

 of its qualities, especially its fertility, is discussed in 

 Chapter VI. The conclusion there arrived at is that, 

 speaking generally, their value is very small. At any 

 rate, we are as yet unable to say, from a considera- 

 tion of such figures, what constituents are present in 



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