PREPARATION OP THE BEAN. 45 



The roof is divided in the centre, and when the floor is exposed, 

 each half is received by a frame-work contrived at each end of 

 the house. The central portion under the flooring may be used 

 for two sets of trays, one on each side, which are made to run 

 on wheels or light iron rails, and so arranged as to be run out on 

 frame-work at right angles to the main frame-work of the 

 building. 



In these trays the Cacao is exposed to the sun, after being 

 sufficiently fermented, but in the middle of the day it is the 

 practice, if very clear, to close the house for an hour or two, to 

 prevent the excess of heat from blistering the Cacao. The layer 

 of beans is spread about 3 or 4 inches thick over the floor, and 

 is turned frequently during the time it is exposed to the sun. 



The length of time taken up in drying depends in a great 

 measure upon the way in which it has fermented. Cacao 

 properly fermented dries much quicker than the partially 

 fermented bean, and of course much depends upon the weather. 

 In rainy seasons, when there is much damp present, there is 

 considerable difficulty in making a good sample of Cacao ; in fact, 

 Cacao at such times is often greatly depreciated in value, and 

 sometimes becomes a total loss. Owing to this fact, it is 

 estimated that a very large sum would be annually saved to the 

 country, if more satisfactory methods of artificial drying were 

 generally instituted. The Central Agricultural Board of 

 Trinidad offered a prize of $200 for the best Cacao drying 

 apparatus at their Exhibition in October, 1890. The full prize 

 was not awarded but an honorarium of $40 each was awarded 

 to three designs which were of considerable merit. 



The first was simply the adoption of the method of heating 

 by hot water, to the ordinary Cacao house. The second was a 

 telescopic drying apparatus adapted for either dry or wet weather, 

 and the third was a dryer having the means of keeping the beans 

 constantly stirrad, which appeared promising. 



Several sets of apparatus on the first principle have been 

 erected and found to work satisfactory but I have not learnt 

 that anything has ever been done in the way of advancing the 

 usefulness of the second design. The third design was erected 

 on a large scale, but it was found that the moring of a large 

 weight of beans, crushed the cuticle, and the idea has been 

 abandoned. 



Sir William Robinson in his pamphlet (1890) gave aa 

 account of the Ceylon drying house as furnished by the late Dr. 

 Trimen, it is as follows : 



" The house is about twice as long as broad, built of brick, and is 

 provided with double doors, but with the exception of the openings for 

 the ingress and egress of the hot air, is hermetically sealed. The interior 



