CONSUMPTION. O 



five years the consumption of cocoa and its 

 products in the United Kingdom has in- 

 creased about 230 per cent. The con- 

 sumption per inhabitant is about 6 3 ls oz. 



In the United States the increased con- 

 sumption in recent years has been no less 

 striking. The amount of cocoa retained 

 for home consumption in 1860 was only 

 1,181,054 pounds ; in 1885 it was 8, 426, 787 

 pounds (that is, cocoa, crude cocoa and 

 shells, not including chocolate, which is 

 classed, in the official returns of imports, 

 under the general head of " farinaceous 

 articles"), an increase of 614 per cent, 

 in twenty-five years. The population in- 

 creased during that period less than 60 per 

 cent. The consumption of tea increased 

 153 per cent., and of coffee 196 per cent. 



In view, therefore, of the great and 

 constantly increasing use of this product, 

 its properties and supply become questions 

 of the highest economic and hygienic im- 

 portance. For the purpose of satisfying 



