IX 



COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 467 



moulding occurred. Therefore artificial drying was 

 started, and now almost all the large plantations are in 

 possession of a drying apparatus. Most of them use 

 a " Guardiola," and this apparatus has proved to work 

 quite satisfactorily in Surinam ; the drawback experi- 

 enced in other countries, namely, the breaking and 

 crushing of beans, when it contains an excessive weight 

 of beans, is not felt in Surinam. It is admitted that 



Fig. 140. Building used for storing the drying waggons and the cocoa alter curing 

 (plantation "Susannasdaal "). 



The drying waggons may be seen outside the building. The tall chimney dates from the time 

 when sugar was cultivated on the estate. 



the produce dried in the " Guardiola " is of the best 

 quality. Another apparatus, the " Huizer apparatus," 

 is used on some estates. It dries quickly and perfectly, 

 but it does not work so cheaply as the " Guardiola." 



The arrangement of the curing establishment on 

 the Surinam plantation is generally so that a house or 

 shanty is always present (called the " cacao-loods "), 

 which is generally a large building (Fig. 140) with a 

 ground-floor and often a second floor ; it contains on 

 the ground-floor the trays on rails, and here is also room 



