CHAPTER XVII 



YIELD AND EXPENDITURE 



It is only possible to give very approximate figures in 

 regard to the yield of cocoa and the cost of production. 



Not only does the yield of a particular variety of 

 cocoa vary considerably in different countries, but it 

 may differ in the same country owing to variations in 

 the soil, climate, and cultural methods adopted. 



The estimated cost of production in a particular district 

 is not necessarily applicable in another, as it is largely 

 influenced by the local conditions affecting labour, 

 transport, land-tenure, and various other factors. 



Yield of Cocoa 



The manner in which the production of cocoa has 

 been increased in various countries by the judicious appli- 

 cation of manures has been already amply demonstrated 

 in this work. 



Tropical America. — According to H.B.M. Consul at 

 Bahia, the average yield in that country is at the rate 

 of 2J kilos. (5Jlb.) of cured cocoa per tree, when 625 trees 

 are planted per hectare, i.e. 284 trees per acre. He 

 considers that higher yields could be obtained by a more 

 intelligent care of the trees. On one carefuUy cultivated 

 plantation the yield has been 6 kilos. (13-2 lb.) per tree, 

 while on another estate in the Belmonte district, it was 

 as high as 15 kilos. (33 lb.) per tree. In Nicaragua the 

 average yield per tree is estimated at 1 lb., and Preuss 

 considers that a similar yield is obtained in Ecuador. 

 Previous to the outbreak of the " Witch-broom " disease 

 in Surinam an average yield of 440 lb. of cocoa per acre 

 was obtained, but this subsequently fell to 72-6 lb. per 

 acre. Jumelle states that on some plantations in Mexico 

 from 5 to 8 lb. of cured cocoa per tree are obtained. 



11 161 



