COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 305 



for every 100,000 trees (90 hectares) 15 labourers, 

 15 animals, and 15 hectares of pasture-grounds are 

 necessary. The yield from this area would be 15 x 80 

 quintals i.e. about 55,000 kilograms while the 

 expenses would be 15x960 sucres, or 1440. These 

 figures indicate a yield of about 600 kilograms per 

 hectare, or about 240 kilograms per acre. 



The minimum expenditure on an Ecuadorian 

 plantation, once it is established, is 6 sucres (12s.) 

 for every quintal (46 kilograms) of cocoa delivered at 

 Guayaquil; but 7 sucres (14s.) must be allowed 

 when special care is given to the cultivation and the 

 upkeep of the plantation. The cocoa is cleaned and 

 put into bags at Guayaquil ; the expense of this, together 

 with export and other duties, makes 5 sucres (10s.) 

 more per quintal. Thus the cost of production for one 

 quintal (46 kilograms) up to the moment when it is 

 put on board the ship at Guayaquil is 12 sucres or 24s. 

 per quintal of 46 kilograms i.e. 6d. per kilogram of 

 cocoa, f.o.b. 



According to Preuss, the planters of Ecuador are, 

 generally speaking, intelligent and practical, and much 

 superior to those of Central America. They are well 

 known for their reliability. They are very particular 

 about their implements, which are of better quality 

 than in other countries. 



An Agricultural Department with a scientific staff 

 does not exist in Ecuador. In other countries the 

 necessity of scientific investigation and advice has long 

 been recognised as indispensable for the improvement 

 of the cultivation and for fighting diseases, and in the 

 Dutch, English, and German colonies Experiment 

 Stations and Botanic Gardens are doing valuable 

 work and have effected remarkable improvements in 

 agriculture. In Ecuador, however, the most important 

 cocoa-growing country in the world, the planters have 

 to work out their own salvation, and instead of spending 

 money to help the planters, the Government charges an 

 export duty on all cocoa exported. This tax amounts 



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