COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 403 



When the weather is favourable, the curing is done 

 by exposure to the sun. This method is preferred in 

 Ceylon on account of its cheapness and the better 

 quality of the produce. The most usual method is to 

 spread the seeds over large floors. Sometimes drying 

 waggons are used, as in Surinam, or movable roofs, as 

 in Trinidad. 



When, however, the weather is rainy, the seeds are 

 cured in the curing house. Numerous types of such 

 houses are in use. According to Wright l most of the 

 curing houses in Ceylon consist essentially of two 

 chambers, the lower one being spacious and specially 

 adapted to receiving the hot air, and the upper one the 

 fermented seeds. The coir matting on the floor of the 

 upper chamber is covered with the freshly fermented 

 seeds, the hot air passed through this mass from below 

 upwards, and the moist air is drawn off by means of a 

 fan. In most cases the heat is drawn through the 



O 



chamber by means of a fan driven by hand or power, 

 and placed at the opposite end of the chamber, away 

 from the heating apparatus ; in some cases, however, 

 the hot air is driven through the lower chamber and 

 allowed to escape at the end of the building opposite 

 the fan. The air-space beneath is usually very spacious, 

 and by means of a series of brick baffle-plates the air 

 may be made to travel throughout its length before 

 commencing to ascend. 



After curing, the beans are sorted and shipped. The 

 Ceylon produce has much resemblance to Java cocoa. 

 Both kinds are in good demand, principally on account 

 of the light colour and the comparatively sweet taste. 

 Accordingly, high prices are paid for well-prepared, 

 first -quality Ceylon. There is, however, little uni- 

 formity, and also much inferior Ceylon is brought to 

 the market. 



As regards profit and cost of production, Lock gives 

 an estimate. 



When the total area planted and the exports are 



1 Wright, Cocoa, pp. 136, 137. 



