Vol. IX. No. 204. 



THE AGKICDLTURAL NEWS. 



53 



-to indicate, in a plain manner, whether their products are 

 perfumed with vanilla or vanillin.' 



It is interesting to note, in passing, that the following 

 measures are proposed for the purpose of putting prices in the 

 French vanilla market on the most satisfactory basis: — 



(1) A t&x of 416 francs per kilogramme (about £~ \0.<. 

 per S).) on vanillin. 



(2) Application of the adulteration laws to vanillin. 



(3) lieduction of the areas cultivated in vanilla in the 

 ditterent countries where it is produced. 



The last recommendation is of special interest, in view 

 of any proposal to extend the production of vanilla in the 

 We: t Indies. 



Evidence as to the increased productioi*- of vanilla is 

 also given in the Diploiiidtir mid Consitlnr Jtfports, Xo. 4,243, 

 Annual Series, Riport tor the Year I'.ldS i,it tin- Trade of 

 Jic'iniioit. Here it is stated that the (juantities produced in 

 recent years were as follows: — 



Year. Kilos. 



1906-7 35,5f<6 



1907-8 48,86.'5 



1908-9 70,000 



It is further stated that, of the last crop, 44 tons was 

 ■exported up to February 26, 1909, when prices varied 

 between 6.<. id. and 9.s. per lb, for first i|uality, and 3s. '2d. 

 and 4.S. 9'/. for inferior quality. The final o[)inion given is: 

 'there has been a great overproduction of vanilla during the 

 last five or si.x year.s, and prices are likely to go still lower 

 as new plantations come into bearing.' 



The 'Semi-Annual llepnrt' of Schimmel it Co., dated 

 October, 1909: has the following: 



The French Government has received a memorial con- 

 taining 2,."300 signatures, from vanilla planters in the French 

 colonies, urging the imposition of a sufficient excise duty 

 upon vanillin to enable the vanilla-producers, who describe 

 themselves as struggling for their existence, to compete 

 successfully with the artificial scent. As a result of this 

 ■step, it is intended to ask the French Parliament to sanction 

 an increase in ihe import duty on vanillin to 1.5 francs per 

 kilo (■").«. 6d. per 11).), in addition to an excise duty of 60 francs 

 per kilo (£1 l.«. Sd. per lb.). Six colonial Deputies, chiefly 

 from liL'union, are agitating with great zeal for the adoption 

 of the proposal, and it will be a matter of great interest to 

 watch whether it will be carried into law, or whether the 

 French industries which consume vanillin will successfully 

 oppose a scheme under which, in future, they would be 

 •deprived of the advantage of being able to employ the most 

 important odoriferous substance. 



The report of Messrs. .lohn Hadden tt Co., Salisbury 

 Square, E.C., for September 1909 (given in the Auriculturnl 

 Bulletin qt the Federated Mulny State.i), mentions that the 

 otfefings of vanilla met a good demand; fine black sold 

 particularly well, and even foxy red and split had improved 

 in value. 



A general consideration of the abo\'e figures and facts 

 would appear to show that the only immediate danger of 

 overproduction of vanilla exists in the French colonies; this 

 is probably because nearly all the vanilla produced by them 

 is marketed in France. The demand in the other markets 

 seems to be fair to good. 



As was stated above, enquiries were made in London and 

 New York by the Department, with a view to ascertaining the 

 position in those markets. In replying to the first, Mr. .J. K. 

 •lackson, F.L.S., sends a copy of a letter received by him 

 from a Mincing Lane expert, to whom he applied for informa- 

 tion, which runs as follows: ' The quantities of vanillas now 

 offered on the London market are considerably less than was 



the case some years ago, and there is a good demand, at 

 increasing value.s, for all that can be brought forwird, so 

 that I am inclined to think that considerably increased 

 supplies would find a ready market at full rates. Of course 

 the quality should approach that of the Bourbon [lleunion] 

 or Seychelles varieties, and not be of the coarser type, such 

 as Tahitis. If your friends could supply the right grades 

 of vanillas, I have no doubt they would meet a ready sale, 

 and at remunerative prices, and we mightagain see London 

 the chief market for vanillas. In spite of- the ever increasing 

 demand for the synthetic vanillin crystals, the beans still 

 hold their own.' 



The enquiry in New York was made from ^Messrs. 

 Gillespie Bros, it Co. Part of the letter of reply from thi.s 

 firm stands as follows: — 



'We have interviewed the principal broker in vanillas, 

 and also one of the largest users. Neither of them is 

 inclined to attribute the present high price of vanillas 

 entirely to the Pure Food Act,. but rather to short crops 

 and an increasing demand. The Pure Food Law has 

 probably had some effect, but articles such as vanillin, which 

 is a synthetic vanilla, is being u.sed in as large quantities as 

 ever, and its sale is not prohibited .so long as the packages 

 are clearly marked \'anillin. 



' The broker advises us that there is always a ready sale 

 for vanilla of good quality, but was unwilling to name any 

 price as being obtainable for an article or quality with which 

 he was not entirely familiar. He laid great stress upon the 

 fact that the value of vanillas depended almost entirely upon 

 the curing and packing, but, on the whole, was inclined to 

 encourage planters to go in for the cultivation. 



' The consumer, on the other hand, is not in favour of 

 attempting to grow vanillas on a large scale in the West 

 Indies. He says that he has himself .several times tried to 

 work up the trade in two or three of the islands, and that 

 his experience is that there is not sufficient labour, or cheap 

 enough labour, to enable the article to compete with the 

 products of other countries. He admits that, on present 

 prices, the vanilla could be grown with good profit in the 

 ^Yest Indies, as prices are two or three times as high as 

 were obtainable three years ago, but in his opinion there wdll 

 be a large crop next year, and ]irices will adjust themselves. 

 He points out that it takes three years before the vines will 

 bear, and that as the present high prices have now been in 

 force for two or three years, the older planters in the othei- 

 island.?, who planted immediately, have now got large new 

 plantations just about to commence bearing, and it is for this 

 reason that he expects a decline in the market. 



' This particular buyer obtains practically all of his 

 supplies from France, and tells us that, whereas in former 

 days he used to be able to buy in London to good advantage, 

 the fact that the Bourbon [Reunion] Island vanilla has to go 

 to France, has resulted in making the French market more 

 important than the London market, and that the Seychelles 

 vanilla is now going there in consequence. In that market 

 he is now paying from 36 to 40 francs per lb. for vanillas 

 which, three years ag", he bought for 12 to 15 francs per lb. 

 ^Ve mention the.se high figures to show you the impossi- 

 bility of giving you any actual idea of probable prices, for 

 we have .seen vanillas here which are not quoted at more 

 than ■?2oO per llx They are, of course, not Bourbon or 

 Mexican vanillas, and are not well dried or well packed^' 



These considerations serve to show the conditions 

 in the different markets, and must be taken into account 

 before, in any particular instance, the matter is discussed in 

 relation to the agricultural aspect. They should be helpful in 

 giving some idea of the purely commercial tenor of the subject. 



