March  2,  1896.]  THE  TROPICAL  ACJRICULTU FUS  r. 
599 
CURING  COCOA. 
The  following  “ notes  on  cui’ing  cocoa  for  small 
settlers”  are  published  by  M.  Cradwick,  yuperin- 
tendent  of  Hope  Gardens,  Jamaica,  under  the  autho- 
rity of  the  Department  of  Public  Gardens  and  Plan- 
tations of  that  colony  ; — 
The  first  important  point  to  be  observed  when 
about  to  cure  cocoa  is  that  it  must  be  quite  ripe, 
but  not  over-ripe.  The  pods  must  have  attained  their 
full  color  whatever  it  may  be,  but  if  the  beaus  shake 
about  easily  then  the  pod  is  over-ripe.  The  reason 
is  that  is  the  beaus  are  not  ripe,  ths  mucilaginous 
matter  covering  the  beans  is  not  properly  developed 
into  the  stage  when  it  will  readily  ferment.  If  left 
to  get  over-ripe,  the  mucilage  commences  to  liquefy. 
The  best  vessel  in  w'hich  a small  cultivator  can 
ferment  cocoa  is  an  ordinary  flour  barrel.  To  pre- 
pare this  for  the  reception  of  cocoa  beans,  first  boro 
about  a dozen  holes,  each  half  an  inch  in  diameter, 
in  the  bottom  of  the  ban-el  then  place  about  ten  in  of 
banana  trash  in  the  bottom  of  the  barrel.  Line  the  sides 
also  thickly  with  trash,  and  have  a sufficient  quantity  on 
hand  to  cover  the  beans  when  placed  in  the  barrel. 
When  the  barrel  is  ready,  break  the  whole  of  the 
pods  and  place  the  beans  in  the  barrel,  covering 
with  the  banana  trash.  The  beans  must  be  left  to 
ferment  for  two  days,  then  remove  orre-third  of  the 
Ireans  and  lay  them  iir  a heap  on  the  floor  airdmi.v 
them  thoroughly  ; remove  the  balairce  of  the  beans  and 
mix  them  also,  but  do  not  prrt  the  two  lieaps  together. 
.After  placing  frosh  trash  in  the  barrel,  put  the  beans 
whiclr  were  at  the  top  back  into  tlie  bottom  of  the 
barrel  and  those  wdiich  were  at  the  bottom, 
place  at  the  top.  Cover  with  trash  in  the 
same  way  as  before  and  leave  for  two  more 
days,  when  the  beans  should  be  treated  iir  exactly 
the  same  way  as  before.  They  should  then  lie 
left  for  two  more  days,  when  they  are  to  be 
taken  out  and  washed  thoroughly.  On  the  day  the 
beans  are  finally  rcmov(‘d  from  the  barrel  the  work 
should  be  canrmeirccd  very  early  in  the  moiiiing,  so 
as  to  get  all  the  sun  possible  on  the  first  day,  for 
the  beans  mildew'  very  quickly.  They'  should  be 
washed  immediately  they  arc  taken  out  of  the  barrel 
as  this  helps  to  keep  them  plump. 
The  proper  amount  of  cocoa  to  ferment  in  one 
barrel  is  the  quantity  of  beans  obtained  fi-oin  1,000 
ordinai-y  sized  pods.  If  many  more  than  this  a:  e 
put  into  one  barrel,  the  fermentation  is  too  great 
and  the  beans  turn  black. 
If  a less  quantity,  say  below  700  pods,  are  to  be 
fermented,  the  green  trash  and  more  of  it  must  be 
used,  and  a weight  not  exceeding  '28  lb.  placed  on 
the  top  which  helps  the  fermentation. 
When  the  cocoa  is  being  dried,  it  is  not  advisable 
to  expose  it  after  the  first  two  days  to  the  extreme 
heat  of  the  midday  sun,  it  is  better  to  take  it  in 
about  9 o’clock,  and  then  put  it  out  again  between 
if  and  4 o'clock.  Those  who  use  evaporators  are 
warned  against  an  excessively  light  temperature. 
Great  care  must  be  takeu  when  removing  the  spod 
from  the  trees  that  they  Le  cut  off  with  a good  sharp 
knife,  not  pulled  off.  If  pulled  off,  the  little  knob  at 
the  base  of  the  stem  of  the  pod  is  iiijurcd,  and  the 
tree  will  not  bear  from  the  same  spot  the  follow'- 
ing  year.  If  the  pods  are  cut  off  carefully,  the  trees 
goes  on  bearing  from  the  same  spot  ye.ar  after  year. 
• — Tune  189.5. — Suc/ai'  Journal,  Nov.  15. 
A TEA  ESTATE  AND  THE  LAW  OF 
CEYLON. 
In  the  Chancery  Division  of  the  High  Court  of 
Justice  in  IjOiuIou  yesterday,  Hfr.  Jnstii'c  liomcr 
mentioned  the  case  of  Dickson  r.  Law,  which  came 
before  him  on  the  ‘iOth  December,  and  was  brought 
by  Mr.  Dicksson  a marine  engineer,  residing  at 
Duntocher,  for  a declaration  that  Mr.  Tnw  was  a 
trustee  for  him  of  the  third  part  of  an  estate  now 
belonging  to  Mr.  Davidson,  the  third  defen  lant, 
residing  at  Middlesborongb,  and  w’hich  was  a tea 
estate  in  the  island  of  Ceylon.  In  the  action  Mr. 
Hopkinsen,  Q.C.,  appeared  for  the  plaintiff  ; and  Mr. 
Oswald,  O.C.,  for  the  defendants.  His  Lordship 
said  that  when  he  looked  into  this  case  ho  saw 
that  the  contract  was  made  in  Ceylon,  and  there- 
fore all  questions  as  to  its  validity  must  depend 
upon  the  law  of  Ceylon.  It  was  not  like  the  case 
of  a contract  in  England,  audit  therefore  struck  him 
that  the  evidence  as  to  the  law  of  Ceylon  w'as  verV 
important,  far  more  important  than  Mr.  Oswald 
seemed  to  have  con.sidered,  and  he  thought  it  would 
not  be  right  to  let  the  evidence  stand  in  the  way 
it  did  unless  they  were  prepared  to  admit  that  by 
the  law  of  Ceylon  the  contract  was  invalid,  and 
could  not  be  enforced  at  all.  He  had  looked  at  the 
only  evidence  given,  and  as  it  stood  it  was  some- 
what dubious,  though  he  thought  that  was  the  in- 
tention of  the  witness  who  gave  it.  But  whether 
that  was  so  or  not,  he  remembered  that  Mr.  Oswald 
had  tendered  another  witness,  but  did  not  call  him, 
being  under  the  impression  that  the  witness  who  had 
given  his  evidence  was  taken  at  conclusive  upon  the 
point.  He  understood  that  Mr.  Hopkinson  was  not 
prepared  to  adopt  that,  and  if  that  were  so  the  case 
ough'.  to  be  restored  to  allow  Mr.  Oswald  to  call 
his  witness,  and  then,  if  necessary,  he  would  give  Mr. 
Hopkinson  liberty  to  call  evidence  on  the  subject.  If 
he  might  say  so,  he  thought  the  case  was  argued  too 
much  on  the  footing  that  it  was  like  an  ordinary  case 
of  contract  here  with  regard  to  laud  abroad,  and  that 
the  same  considei-.ations  would  apply. 
Mr.  Oswald  remarked  that  he  argued  that  the  con- 
tract being  in  Ceylon,  the  law  of  Ceylon  applied. 
Mr.  Justice  Homek  said  it  was  a question  whether 
it  would  not  be  the  best  course  to  dismiss  the  action 
without  prejudice  to  the  plaintiinninijing  an  action 
in  Ceylon,  as  there  was  a clainF  for  payments  that 
had  been  advanced  by  the  plaintiff.  The  main 
case,  however,  was  that  the  plaintiff  was  entitled  to 
get  one-third  of  the  profits  of  the  estate.  He  should 
like  to  have  the  matter  thoroughly  looked  into,  as  it 
would  be  uusatisfactory  to  dispose  of  it  in  its  present 
condition,  and  therefore  he  proposed  to  have  it  res- 
tored to  the  paper  for  further  evidence  and  argument. 
Mr.  Osw.AJ.i)  said  he  would  prefer  to  have  the  action 
dismissed  at  once  without  costs. 
Mr.  Justice  Ilo.MF.u  said  that  so  far  upon  the  merits 
if  he  could  have  decided  in  favour  of  the  plaintiff  he 
would  have  done  so,  and  he  could  not  help  thinking 
that  if  Mr.  Oswald’s  clients  were  honourable  gentle- 
men under  any  circumstances  they  ought  to  return 
the  money  that  was  advanced. 
Mr.  Oswald  said  that  an  offer  of  a very  much 
larger  sum  was  made,  and  it  was  refused. 
Mr.  Justice  llojinii  had  no  wish  to  put  the  parties 
to  any^further  expense,  and  he  therefore  asked  Mr. 
Hopkinson  if  he  would  consent  to  a judgment  for 
the  amounts  advanced  without  costs. 
Mr.  Hopkinson  was  prepared  to  aoAopt  that  ; but 
till  he  should  like  to  have  a little  time  to  consider  it. 
Later  in  the  day  Mr.  Hopkinson  said  that  thouMi 
he  was  limself  sati-  fled  with  the  evidence  as  it  stoo'd, 
it  was  thought  it  would  be  iietter  if  there  were 
some  disc  ussion  upon  it,  and  therefore  pei  haps  it  would 
be  better  to  restore  it. 
Mr.  Justice  Rome  a thought  so  alsc,  and  asked 
counsel  to  mention  it  again  to  him  when  it  was  ready 
to  be  restored.  He  W’ould  only  say  at  present  he 
thought  from  a sense  of  honour  the  plaintiff  ought 
to  be  tr-eated  liberally.  ° 
The  subject  then  dropped.— Jan.  ISth. 
♦ — 
A New  Tea  Company.— The  cry  is  still  they  come. 
The  latest  company  is  the  Rondura  Valley  Tea  Com- 
pany, which  h.as  been  formed  to  acquire  the  Rondura 
and  Broadlands  estates,  situated  near  the  Ginigahe- 
tenne  g.ip.  The  estates  are  quite  young,  and  con- 
sist together  of  ;>.50  acres  of  tea  in  bearing,  and 
200  acres  of  reserve,  mostly  forest.  The  price  paid 
was  R2.)0,000.  A new  factory  is  to  bo  erected  on 
Broadlands,  and,  as  the  jat  of  the  tea  planted  is 
high,  and  the  soil  good,  the  company  ought  to  do 
exceedingly  well  at  the  price  paid.  All  the  capital 
has  been  subscribed,  we  need  hardly  add.  Messrs. 
J.  R.  Robertson  A Co.  are  the  Secretaries,  and 
Messrs.  Henry  Bois,  A.  E.  Scovell,  and  Alfred  Scovcll, 
are  the  provisional  Directors. — Local  Times.” 
