PACKING AND STORING COCOA 169 



winnowing machines to which these sieves are attached. 

 Winnowing machines grade the beans into different 

 sizes and separate the broken beans and foreign matters 

 at the same time. 



It is sometimes found sufficient to divide the cured 

 beans into two grades, but a division into three grades 

 is preferable. 



Packing Cocoa for Export. — Cured cocoa is usually 

 packed for shipment in sacks ; these should be of good, 

 stout material, or losses may occur in transit. 



The mouth of the sack, after being filled, should be 

 sewn up with strong cord and not tied ; by this means 

 a greater quantity of beans can be placed in a sack and 

 there is less danger of the cord working loose and allowing 

 the contents to escape. 



The quantity of cocoa contained in a sack varies in 

 different countries. 



Where the sacked cocoa is subjected to a great deal of 

 handling previous to shipment it is doubtful whether 

 it is advisable to place more than 112 lb. of cocoa in each 

 sack ; but where good facilities exist for transporting the 

 cocoa to the port of shipment it may be packed in larger 

 quantities. 



Storing Cocoa. — Previous to storing cocoa the planter 

 should satisfy himself that the beans are perfectly dry, 

 as the presence of moisture encourages the growth of 

 mould, which imparts an unpleasant flavour to the 

 kernels and depreciates their market value. 



If the curing process is unduly prolonged, mould 

 appears on the integument, and if not removed, may 

 penetrate to the kernel. 



It is often possible to remove a slight attack of mould 

 from the exterior of the beans by rubbing them vigorously 

 and thoroughly drying them. 



When too much mould has formed for it to be disposed 

 of in this manner it is advisable to wash the beans with 

 water and to dry them rapidly. 



Cured cocoa beans are sometimes attacked by insects. 

 The writer observed two insects destructive to stored 

 cocoa in the Gold Coast , i.e. Aroeoceriis coffece, a small 

 beetle, and Ephestia cautella, Wlk., a PjTalid moth. 



It is stated that the same insects are also troublesome 

 in cocoa warehouses in England. The larvae of both 



