228 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Oct. 2. 1893. 
Ceylon Cocoa. 
The following analyses of Ceylon Cocoa, grown 
on Anniewattie estate in 1892, are by Mr. R. 
R. Tatlock, City Analyst of Glasgow and Chemist 
to the Glasgow Agricultural Society: — 
Agricultural Analysit of Cocoa Seeds. 
Per cent. 
Moisture ... ... ... .. 5-12 
Lime ... ... ... ,.. -20 
Potash ... ... .„ ... 125 
Phosphoric Acid ... ... ... 121 
Nitrogen ... ^ .. ... 220 
Ash ... ... ... ... .3-35 
Proportion of Nibs and Hu$k in Seed. 
Nibs 
Husk 
92 
8 
100 
Proximate Analysis of Cocoa Nibs. 
Per cent. 
Moisture ... ... ... ... 481 
Fat ... ... ... ... 56-50 
Albuminoids ... ... ... 13-87 
Alkaloids ... ... ... ... -95 
Ash soluble in water ... ,„ 1-05 
Ash insoluble in water, but soluble in 
hydrochloric acid ... ... ... 2-37 
According to the above analysis Ceylon cocoa 
nibs are richer in fat and albuminoids than any 
of the other analyses quoted. The alkaloids, 
one of which Theobromine gives the name to 
the plant, are also higher than in all the most 
recent analyses. The following table shows the 
amount of alkaloids obtained by Dr. Bell in 
several varieties of cocoa nibs: — 
Alkaloids in Cocoa Nibs. 
Cocoa. 
Guayaquil ... 
Grenada ... 
Surinam 
Trinidad ... 
Husk 
Theine-like 
Alkaloid. 
Per cent. Per cent. 
Theobromine. 
•54 
•91 
•78 
•69 
1-02 
trace 
•02 
•25 
•33 
It is worthy of remark that the husk contains a 
larger percentage of alkaloids than the whole seed. 
The following results according to Dr. Bell 
have been obtained by other Chemists. Tucker 
obtained -38 to -66 of Theobromine, Hassall 
from '47 to -78 per cent, and Muter -9 per cent. 
Paven, Playfair and Lankester report 2- per cent, 
ancl Mitscherlich 1-5 per cent. 
The agricultural analysis of the seeds by 
Tatlock enables us to calculate the amount of 
important ingredients removed from the soil per 
annum by a crop of the seed; thus, taking an 
average crop of cocoa seeds at 300 lbs. , the 
nitrogen, phosphoric :-_acid and potash removed 
from the soil ■will be as follows for one and 
two years respectively: — 
One Year. Two Years. 
Nitro^n 
Phosphoric Acid 
Potash 
6^6 
3-63 
375 
13-21 
7^26 
7^50 
It will be interesting to compare here the 
amounts of important ingredients removed from 
the soil by equal weights of tea, coffee and 
Important constituents of plant food removed 
from the soil by 1,000 lbs. of Tea, Coffee 
and_ Cocoa respectivdy . 
Plant-food. 
Nitrogen ... 
Phosphoric Acid 
Potash 
Lime 
a> 
H 
CoH'ee in 
Parchment 
1 lbs. 
Cocoa 
lbs. 
48-8 
14-6 
22 0 
7-6 
2-7 
12-1 
2.5-2 
13-5 
12-5 
5-7 
1-9 
2 0 
, »«v,i.i nic auuic i-uai, I u I' equal 
weights, the tree crop is tlie most exhausting 
of the three as regards the nitrogen, potash and 
lime, removed from the soil, while Cocoa is the 
most exhausting as regards pho.splioric acid. If 
on the other hand instead of baaing our cal- 
culations on equal weights of the three crops, 
we take average crops, the following table will 
show the re.spective amounts of plant food in lbs. 
removed from the soil by tea, cofTee and cocoa :— 
Important constituents of plant food removed from 
the sod by average crops my, J,00 lbs. tea, 
500 lbs. coffee and 300 lbs. cocoa per acre. 
4^ 
Plant-food. 
Tea 
400 lbs. 
— « « 
a) 5 — 
^.= — 
<e 0 0 
C t. c 
0 =4 "I 
c- 
« £ 
2 ' 
C Q 
c; ® 
Nitrogen ... 
Phosphoric Acid 
Potash 
Lime 
'V\\a ol./Aira foKlrt ..1. 
19-52 
3-04 
10 08 
2-28 
7-3 
1-3-. 
6-75 
-95 
6-6 
3-63 
3-75 
•6 
_ .„ ugu... c:.uu.io ujitti, tea 18 ine 
most exhausting of the three crops as regards 
all the ingredients except phosphoric acid, in 
respect of which cocoa exceeds it. 
Cocoa Pods Analysed as a Manure. 
The following analysis was undertaken by the 
author to ascertain the proportion of fertilising 
constituents contained in cocoa pods after the 
removal of the seeds. The analyses was made 
at the instance of a local firm. The pods when 
received were partially decomposed, being quite 
black in color : — 
Mixture 
Dry Matter 
Analysis of Dry Matter. 
* Organic Matter 
t-Asli 
Containing Nitrogen 
Lime 
Potash ... 
„ Phcsphoric Anhydride 
„ Silica 
Undetermined 
Percentage Analysis of Ash. 
SUica 
Lime 
Potash ... ... "\ 
Phospboric Anhydride ... 
Undetermined 
Per cent. 
. 76 00 
. 24-00 
100 00 
Per cent. 
. 94-34 
5-66 
100.00 
2-85 
•65 
•89 
•07 
. 2-04 
. 201 
. .S610 
. 11-48 
. 15-64 
. 1-20 
. 35-58 
100-00 
