168 CACAO 



a circular floor is laid, with guard edges about 1 ft. in height. 

 This floor is pierced with numerous small holes leading 

 through into the lower storey. Beneath the floor is fitted 

 a funnel-shaped air-tight chamber, the pointed base of 

 which reaches nearly to the ground, and into the base of 

 this inverted cone is fitted a conveniently sized pipe for 

 conveying hot air, generated in a chamber (containing 

 pipes filled with exhaust steam) through which cold air 

 is drawn by a powerful centrifugal. The air is thus 

 heated to any desired point up to 150° F., and is then 

 forced through the funnel and floor into the drying chamber. 

 The latter is covered with a cone-shaped roof, with vents 

 at the apex to allow of the escape of air moistened by its 

 passage through the beans resting on the floor. From the 

 centre of the floor an upright shaft ascends to the apex 

 of the roof. This shaft carries two or more booms moving 

 horizontally, quite close to the floor. These booms carry 

 small ploughs, or turning shares, and brushes which slide 

 upon the floor and keep the beans in motion, thus allowing 

 them to dry rapidly in the passing hot air. The upper 

 part of the shaft drives a small exhaust fan which carries 

 off all moisture as soon as formed. 



This apparatus dries twelve to fifteen bags of cacao in 

 thirty to thirty-six hours ; the cacao being well prepared, 

 the frequent movement of the beans polishing their exterior 

 by the rubbing they get from contact with each other, 

 thus taking the place of the " dancing " practised on sun- 

 drying floors. The machine is driven by a small steam- 

 engine, which is used for distilling " lime oil " when not 

 working on cacao. At the estate where this dryer is in 

 use cacao is fermented in cylindrical drums which are 

 turned at stated intervals, on which those made by Marcus 

 Mason and Co. are a great improvement. 



Drying by solar heat, or sun drying. — The ordinary 

 method of drying cacao is by means of the heat of the sun 

 striking upon wooden floors. The mention of wooden floors 

 needs accentuation, as in coffee-growing countries an 

 attempt is often made to dry cacao on the " barbecues " 



