THE WORLD'S PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION 71 



much money as he wants for his cocoa without taking 

 the trouble to ferment it. 



South America is the British Empire 's^most for- 

 midable competitor in the raw cocoa industry. 

 Although it is generally admitted that the average 

 quality of South American cocoa has much improved 

 during recent years, it is frequently argued that our 

 Empire should easily be able to maintain its newly 

 won supremacy over South America in the cocoa world, 

 such arguments being based on facts concerning the 

 neglected state of the average cocoa plantations in the 

 South American Republics. We know there is a great 

 deal of truth in the disparaging facts that are put for- 

 ward; but we also know the South American Republics 

 well enough to warn competitors that they are indus- 

 trially formidable beyond the comprehension of anyone 

 who has not had opportunities of getting wide first- 

 hand knowledge and experience of their natural fertility, 

 and of the miracle-working, progressive spirit of their 

 people in this present stage of their development. 



Prior to the war, the biggest purchasers of raw cocoa 

 were, in order of importance, the United States, Ger- 

 many, Holland, the United Kingdom, France, and 

 Switzerland. During the last few years the United 

 States have been buying more and more cocoa, and 

 their annual importation now exceeds half the world's 

 production. The United Kingdom's purchases rose 

 from 699,639 cwts. in 1913 to 1,158,160 cwts. in 1917. 



