Mr. George S. Hudson 163 
Before proceeding to treat the question of 
cacao curing in detail I think a few words 
would be useful regarding the small cacao 
producer’s share in this matter. I refer to 
the man who always sells his cacao to the 
merchant. Perhaps it is necessary to first 
dispel the illusion that the prosperous mer- 
chant gets fat on the profits from this trade. 
Whatever the result may be elsewhere, it is 
‘not so in the West Indies, where cacao buying 
yields a very moderate profit in comparison 
with the time, labour and money invested in 
it. It is more often looked upon by the mer- 
chant buyer as a means of remitting money 
to Europe at a small profit instead of buying 
bank bills at a premium, and the extra ‘turn- 
over” of business with the agent in Europe 
all helps to grease the wheels of finance. In 
referring to the low class of native cacao 
throughout the world there is an implication 
that the native is the individual to be blamed 
for this result. I would not like to become his 
champion, but it is only fair to state that, as 
matters now stand, the game is all in the hands 
of the cacao buyers, and they, by uniting, can 
call whatever tune they wish as regards the con- 
dition of the cacao when brought to them for 
sale within the legal restrictions. It is prob- 
able that two nights’ sweating and one day’s 
sun would not interfere with the prospects of 
turning’ out a good sample, and would give 
ample chance of convicting a cacao thief. It 
