MANUFACTURERS' OPINIONS 141 



samples in each case. He would say that sample IV6 

 is very similar to a mUd Grenada, whilst samples Vb and 

 VI6 have more of the Trinidad quality. Some of the 

 samples show signs of mould, which of course detracts 

 from their value.' 



"This firm also offered thefoUowing general remarks with 

 regard to the condition of the West African cocoa trade : 



" ' The bulk of the cocoa which comes over to the 

 European market from West Africa has received hardly 

 any fermentation at all. The pods are simply opened 

 and the beans dried without any attempt at proper 

 fermentation. In our opinion no amount of grading of 

 this kind of cocoa would materially improve the price. 

 On the other hand, if the cocoa is properly prepared, as 

 is done in the Portuguese island of San Thome and in 

 the British island of Grenada, a superior quality of cocoa 

 would be obtained, and if fermentation is done regularly 

 the quality will be uniform.' 



" Samples of the cocoa were also submitted to a firm 

 of brokers in London for valuation. They reported on 

 them as f oUows : 



'"Sample No. I. — Bold, reddish, even but dark" break" ; 

 worth about 50s. to 51s. per cwt. 



" ' Sample No. TVa. — Pale reddish, fairly good "break " ; 

 worth about 50s. per cwt. 



" ' Sample No. IV6. — Pale reddish, apparently washed, 

 part lean and small ; worth about 49s. per cwt. 



" ' Sample No. Va. — ^DuU reddish, fair " break " ; worth 

 about 49s. per cwt. 



" ' Sample No. Vb. — Very dull, dark " break " ; worth 

 about 47s. per cwt. 



" ' Sample No. Via. — Very dark, dull " break " ; worth 

 about 48s. per cwt. 



" ' Sample No. VI6. — Very grey and coated, but fair 

 " break " ; worth about 48s. per cwt. 



" ' During the past few months [i.e. late in 1905] prices 

 of almost all descriptions of cocoa have favoured buyers, 

 owing to large crops of Trinidad, Bahia, and African 

 sorts, and present values are moderate. Cocoa cured 

 and prepared as samples represent would attract attention 

 and compete with San Thome and West Indian kinds and 

 would fetch good prices here.' 



