268 CACAO 



temperatures little above freezing-point, but this is the 

 exception, and not the rule, and those forwarding should 

 always assure themselves that their consignments will not 

 have to pass points where damaging temperatures are 

 likely to be experienced. The most successful despatches 

 of plants coming under notice have always been those 

 sent through temperatures continuously high enough to 

 enable them to pass with safety. Cases despatched from 

 the West Indies in July or August for London in the 

 majority of instances arrive in safety, while a case des- 

 patched in February or October would be almost sure to 

 meet a cold snap in the Channel, or a cold hour on a wharf 

 or railway platform ; and its contents would be severely 

 damaged or perhaps destroyed. 



Cacao pods (each containing thirty to thirty-five seeds) 

 can also be forwarded long distances safely if sufficient 

 care is used in picking, curing, and packing. It is, however, 

 not advisable to send them on journeys longer than fourteen 

 to sixteen days ; they have arrived safely in journeys 

 taking as much as twenty to twenty-five days, but the 

 risk of loss is great. It is of essential importance in 

 forwarding pods that they should not be damaged in the 

 picking. Every one of them should be hand-picked and 

 not cut or bruised in any way, or they will not go safely 

 even with the best package, as they rot as quickly as an 

 apple when injured. The pods should be cured or wilted 

 for a day or two in dry air before packing, and the packing 

 should be carried out so as to afford ventilation and prevent 

 heating or fermentation. This can best be done by packing 

 them in shallow, well-ventilated cases, in what is known as 

 " wood wool," or fine wood shavings, not sufficient, in any 

 case, to gather heat and induce fermentation. Small 

 quantities of seeds can also be transmitted by parcel post, 

 in one- and two-pound biscuit-tins, the seeds being packed 

 in sterilised coco-nut refuse, but even these should not be 

 sent except during warmest weather. The best cases for 

 sending pods are shallow ones, 30 in. long, 1 ft. deep, and 

 18 in. or 2 ft. wide. The ventilation apertures should be 



