101 



were valueu by Messrs. Lewis & Peat at from 48s. to 51s. per cwt. 

 for the washed samples, and 47s. to 49s. per cwt, for unwashed ; 

 they advocated washing. The samples had been fermented for 

 periods varying from 4 to 8 days (Mus. Kew). In some samples 

 the higher values were associated with the longer periods of 

 fermentation (50s. to 51s., 8 days) and in others with the shorter 

 periods (50s., 4 days), and on the whole the figures given were not 

 such as to admit of an accurate conclusion being drawn as to the 

 value of the fermentative period in conjunction with the washing 

 (see Johnson to Director, Roy. Bot. Gardens, Kew, Aug. 16th, 

 1905, Gold Coast Bot. St. Records, 1862-1905, 313, and Bull. Imp. 

 Inst, 1907, p. 361). 



One fundamental argument in favour of unwashed beans is that 

 they are heavier, and it would appear that, true as this axiom may 

 be, it is open to question whether it is in all cases sufficient to 

 compensate for the loss in quality and generally unsatisfactory 

 appearance. Taking Ceylon as a typical producer of washed 

 cocoa, and the West Indies for unwashed, we find the average 

 price per lb. of the former for 1906 is 6'5 pence (4,455,901 lbs. 

 valued at £122,729), and of the latter 6<125 pence (13,560,501 lbs. 

 valued at £346,137) [Trade of the United Kingdom, 1907, p. 267, 

 Imports], figures which show T that there is much to be said in 

 favour of both systems, more especially since Ceylon, which 

 originally grew more " Criollo," now, according to authoritative 

 reports, has a preponderance of " Forastero," a circumstance which 

 brings the two sources more into line, and thus makes some 

 approach to accuracy by comparison. The average price per lb. 

 of Ecuador Cocoa for the same year was 7*25 pence (2,812,457 lbs. 

 valued at £85,330) ; Venezuela 9*5 pence (127,625 lbs. valued at 

 £5,144) in general non- washing countries ; B. W. Africa 4'175 

 pence (2J.12,352 lbs. at £40,898) ; German West Africa 5*5 pence 

 (242,051 lbs. at £5,484) [I.e.], perhaps chiefly if not entirely 

 washed cocoas. These are facts whicli bear the same significance, 

 and also indicate that factors other than washing must be taken 

 into consideration ; which are, mainly, the variety growu, cultiva- 

 tion, the fermentative organisms, conditions under storage, and 

 the condition of the market at the time of sale. 



The trees begin to bear at their third or fourth year. At the 

 sixth to ninth year they should be in fair bearing ; from the 

 twelfth to the fifteenth year in their prime ; they may then be 

 expected to yield remunerative returns for some fifty, eighty, or a 

 hundred years (Morris, Cacao aud How to Cure It, 1882, p. 36). 



Hart gives 1*6 lb. per tree as a good yield, and as a poor yield 

 0*8 lb. per tree (Cacao, p. 73). He gives the remarkable record of 

 15 lbs. 9 oz. for one special tree during 1907 (Bull. Misc. Inf. 

 Roy. Bot. Gardens, Trinidad, 1908, p. 20). It has been estimated 

 that in Ecuador 4,827 plantations, with a total of 58,551,142 trees, 

 yielded 41,134,900 lbs. (Consul-Gen. Dietrich, Guayaquil, U.S. 

 Cons. Rep. May, 1907, p. 210) approximately, the poor yield 

 above-mentioned taking the average per tree. Watt gives an 

 estimate of 1-10 lbs. of dry nibs in a year (Coinm. Prod. Ind. 

 p. 1076). Various estimates are given by Wright (Cacao, p. 193) 

 from 1-8 lbs. 



