116 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



April 12. 1913. 



FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 



VANILLA CULTIVATION AT ST VINCENT. 



The following account of a recent visit paid to an 

 estate in St. Vincent, by the Agricultural .Superin- 

 tendent, is of considerable interest and inipurtance, in 

 view of recent efforts to extend the vanilla industry in 

 the West Indies, particularly in Dominica (see Report 

 on the Agricultural Department, 1911-12), in Nevis, 

 and in the island at present under consideration. 



Seine years ago the Agricultural Department of 

 St. Vincent imported a number of plants of vanilla { Vanilla 

 planifulia) from the Seychelles. A few of these were distri- 

 buted to Mr. V F. Huggins of Bellewood estate, who has 

 since propagated from thein, and established a small cultiva- 

 tion. After making a number of experiments involving 

 diflferent methods, Mr. Huggins has devised a system 

 whereby he obtains fairly good results, notwithstanding that 

 his estate is situated at an elevation of 1,.500 feet in the 

 mountains, and has an average yearly rainfall of over 

 120 inches. 



The annual output of the estate is now about 40 R). of 

 pods, which realize, on ail average, 2s. less per lb. than the 

 best grade.s on the market. With the new drying house 

 that he has recently built, Mr. Huggins hopes to obtain 

 still better results. The lands are surrounded by high 

 hills covered with forest. The vanilla vines are planted 

 in small sheltered clearings in the forest where the 

 soil is of a good depth, light, and rich in vegetable 

 matter. After many trials in the endeavour to find a satis- 

 factory support for the vines, it was found that they thrived 

 well on stems of the tree fern {Cyatkea ar/>orta). These 

 plants were found to be very durable and did not require 

 renewing for .several years. Tree fern stems are therefore 

 used in preference to live or dead posts. Mr. Huggins, 

 however, is trying at the present time a trellis sy.«tem, using 

 Page wire fencing, to which are tied rods of 'Roseau' grass 

 {Gyneriwn saccharnklts); but it is too early yet to .judge 

 whether this method will prove a success. 



In cutting tree ferns for support, the oldest ones that 

 can be obtained are selected, and cut into posts 7 to 8 feet in 

 length so as to allow, when set up, a height of 6 feet out of the 

 soil. Holes are bored horizontally 1 foot apart through 

 each post, and at right angles to each other. Through these 

 holes are placpd pieces of 'Ro.seau' cane, so arranged that about 

 8 inches of the cane protudes on each side of the post. 



Additionil support for the vines is thereby provided. The 

 posts are arranged in rows (i feet apart. 



The cultivation and pruning of the vines as well as the 

 pollination of the flowers are conducted along the usual lines. 

 The pods produced are of good size and shape and measure 

 from 8 to 10 inches in length. 



It is in the curing of the pods that there appears to be 

 some divergence from the methods described in publications 

 on the subject. After being picked, the pods are scalded in 

 water for a few seconds, the time I>eing judged by counting 

 from 1 to 8 slowly. After being drained, the pods are 

 wrapped in the leaves of a native large-leaved aroid called 

 'Chainey', and placed in a box for four or five days to 

 ferment. When the pods have assumed a soft brown 'maroon' 

 colour they are taken out and placed on leave.s in the drying 

 house. This ilrying house is well ventilated, and arranged 

 with shelves covered with !inch mesh galvanized wire-netting. 

 The pods are spread out in a single layer and constantly 

 'smoothed' and turned until they assume a very dark-brown 

 colour, silky feel; and possess a supple consistency. They 

 are then sorted into lengths and grades and packed in bundles 

 in tins. 



Mr. Huggins states that quite 25 per cent, of his pods 

 split in curing. This he considers to be due, in a large 

 measure, to the difficulty of picking each pod at just the right 

 stage of ripeness. 



After several years of close attention Mr. Huggins 

 appears now to have successfully surmounted most of the 

 ditticulties he encountered in the beginning, and must be 

 complimented on the satisfactory result of his persistent 

 efforts towards the establishment of a small vanilla industry. 



Notice of Judgement No 1940 issued from the Office of 

 the Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture, 

 concerns the case of misbranding of vanillin powder. The 

 product was labelled: Vanillin powder — A Substitute for 

 Alcoholic E.vtract of Vanilla. Analysis of a sample '>f the 

 product by the Bureau of Chemistry showed it to be com- 

 posed of vanillin, 063 per cent., coumarin (the flavouring 

 constituent of tonka bean) 0-31 per cent., and qualitative 

 examination showed the vehicle or diluent consisted of corn 

 starch 45 7 and cane sugar 4 9.'5 per cent. The defendant 

 company entered a plea of guilty to the information, and the 

 court imposed a fine of §.50. 



