IIISTOUV AM) CL-LTIVATION OF TIIK I'LANT. 2^ 



for another clay to coincide the pn^ccssof fcrinciUaiion. A miinljcr 

 of women are then employed for one or two hours in rubbing 

 them with their hands, and cleaning them as thoroughly as 

 possible from all mucilaginous and gummy matters. 



The red earth, by its absorbent qualities, assists in ridding 

 the beans of the mucilage, and gives them a deep red colour ; it 

 is also supposed to give them better keeping qualities. A large 

 proportion of Trinidad Cacao is cleaned without the use of red 

 earth, but the process is much more tedious and the beans are not 

 so good in colour and general appearance. In Jamaica, a large 

 quantity of red earth for the purpose can be obtained from what 

 are called the ** Red Hills," St. Andrews. When the cleaning 

 and rubbing process has been completed, the lx:ans are spread 

 out on a tray to dry. 



While drying they .uc v^.trefully turned, so as to expose them 

 completely to the inllucnce of the sun ; but in case of rain they are 

 immediately covered by the sliding roof of the Cacao house. 

 During the hottest part of the day, when the thermometer stands 

 over 90"* in the shade, it is considered undesirable to expose the 

 beans too much to the sun, as thereby they become " parched " or 

 shrivelled. The Cacao house is therefore generally shut on hot 

 days for three or four hours, and the Cacao exposi-d only when 

 the tem|)eniture is low. 



The process of turning and drying is continued from day to 

 day until the Cacao is thoroughly cured.* 



thr .'. .,, .... - hot- 



» .irc .iiT.in;;c<l m .1 '»n box, i* travel 



$1. -.1 ..!i .1 1).in.l <<( n.' .»t ill. .1 $cne« 



of . move al cx.u t hc-.i required 



5 ; . and an c ■ • of each « ■• 



