VII 



FERMENTATION AND DRYING 213 



the loss in weight, which is so great that it is 

 not counterbalanced by the slightly better price. In 

 Surinam it has been calculated that with well-fermented 

 cocoa the loss in weight by washing is about 4 per cent. 

 At a price of 60 cts. per kilogram (the average price in 

 Surinam during the years 19041906), this means a 

 loss of 2 '4 cts. per kilogram ; but the merchants paid only 



Photo. Hisgen, supplied ly the kite Mr. C. MacGillavry. 

 FIG. 69. The washing basin, plantation "Djati Roenggo," Java. 

 The beans are shovelled into this washing basin after fermentation. 



2 cts. per kilogram, more for the washed cocoa. The 

 labour spent on washing resulted therefore in a small 

 loss. 1 This has been found to be the case in most other 

 countries. In Kamerun the loss in weight by washing 

 turned out to be about 3 '83 per cent, about the same 

 as in Surinam. The figures found by Preuss were as 

 follows : 



100 unwashed beans . 

 100 washed beans 



Loss in 100 seeds by washing . 



121-25 grams 

 H3 ^_ 



8 '25 grams or 3'83 per cent. 



Wright, Cocoa, p. 131. 



