34 BULLETIN 1413, U. S. DEPAEIMENT OF AGKICULTUKE 
(Meed varies from 6 to 12 per cent of the weight of raw beans. The 
quantity of fines obtained to a certain extent is supplemental to the 
quantity of separated shells. Where the shells amounted to 6 or 7 
pounds per 100 pounds of raw cacao, the fines amounted to 6 or 7 
pounds, but where 12 pounds of commercial shells were obtained the 
fines amounted to little more than the weight of the germs. Prob- 
ably Knapp's data are about as true for average American practice 
as they are for conditions in English factories. He reports (24) 
the production of 10.5 pounds of separated shells and 1 pounds of 
smalls or fines per 100 pounds of raw cacao, 
QUANTITY OF COMMERCIAL SHELLS PRODUCED 
The imports of crude cacao into the United States for the calendar 
years 1923 and 1921 were 207,118 and 189,111 short tons respectively, 
or, in round numbers, about 200,000 tons 32 of the beans per 
year (54, p. 48). 
Since from 6 to 12 pounds of shells are produced per 100 pounds 
of raw cacao, it follows that the production of factory-separated 
shells in the United States amounts to between 12,000 and 24,000 
tons annually. Estimating the quantity of commercial shells at 10 
per cent of the weight of raw beans, it may be assumed that since 
the World War from 15,000 to 20,000 tons of cocoa shells have been 
produced each year in this country. 
UTILIZATION 
Cocoa shells, unlike the by-product cake and extracted cocoa, have 
long been recognized as an established article of commerce. Large 
quantities of the ground shells, known as cocoa-shell meal, are con- 
sumed in the manufacture of commercial mixed fertilizers. A cer- 
tain quantity is used in this country in the preparation of proprietary 
feed mixtures, particularly in goods of the calf-meal type. Cacao 
shells also have been used by manufacturers of theobromine for 
the extraction of the contained alkaloid, but are considered less 
valuable for this purpose than the low-fat pressed cake. (See p. 27.) 
Most of the shells produced in the United States, it is believed, 
are consumed in the three ways mentioned. 33 
Doubtless the shells are occasionally burned for fuel under the 
boilers in the producing factories. The value of the shells for this 
purpose, like that of the cocoa cake, would be influenced by their 
fat content. Knapp has stated that cacao shells have a slightly 
higher value than wood as fuel, the heat of combustion being 7,400 
to 8,600 B. t. u. per pound for the shells (24). 
COMPOSITION AND AGRICULTURAL VALUE OF SHELLS 
There is little specific information relating to the value of cacao 
shells as fertilizer material to be found in the literature. The 
•"- Thp relative magnitude of this tonnage is shown by comparing it with the annual 
production of regular American crops. In 1923 the imparts of cacao were equal in weight 
to 44 per cent of the total dry or navy bean crop or to 64 per cent of the peanut pro- 
duction of the country. 
23 One manufacturer of chocolate mentioned an odd experience in connection with dis- 
posal of the shells, which, while seemingly trivial in relation to quantity utilization, may 
be of some significance. Some of the shells were used as bedding for dogs. Later the 
keeper credited the cocoa shells with having caused the disappearance of fleas with which 
the animals had been infested. This suggests the possibility that the shells may contain 
a chemical principle repellant to certain insects. 
