170 



plants, and to show that the average number of flowers produced 

 was in excess of those under observation for that year. 



For the present it is important to note that the period for 

 maximum flower production was in the months of April, May and 

 June, and that this was preceded or followed by minor periods 

 of floral activity in the years 1903, 1904 and 1905. 



VANILLA INDUSTRY IN THE SEYCHELLES. 



The following particulars of the vanilla industry in the Sey- 

 chelles Islands are given in a Colonial Office report for 1 905 :— 



EXPORTS OF VANILLA. 



1904 1905 



Rs. Rs. 



United Kingdom ... 130,592 137,185 



France ... 148,446 136,462 



Mauritius ... 3,987 64 



Switzerland ... 8,400 8,400 



Germany ... 765 



The striking feature in the foregoing statement is the continued 

 collapse of vanilla, the staple export of the Colony for many 

 years. Vanilla may have a future ; in no place are the conditions- 

 of nature more favourable than in Seychelles, but for the present 

 it is of little value, and the crop of 1906 is so small that it cannot 

 be expected to exceed 30,000 kilos. Vanilla has long held the 

 pride of place at the head of the products of Seychelles. In 1905 

 it has been displaced by coco-nut products, which Lave been ex- 

 ported to the value of Rs. 413,951, whereas vanilla has fallen in 

 value to Rs. 282,876. The quantity exported was more than anti- 

 cipated, being 48,208 kilos., or over 100,000 lbs., but the actual 

 crop did not exceed 36,000 kilos., the surplus consisting of the 

 balance of the crops of 1903 and 1904, which had been held up 

 for better prices. The crop for 1906 will not exceed 20,000 kilos., 

 and there is only a very small stock of old vanilla held locally 

 The cause of the falling-off in crops for 1904, 1905 and 1906 is 

 the period of drought in 1 904, which destroyed one-third of the 

 vines and reduced the vitality of the remainder. The crop of 

 1904 had been expected, judging from the flowering season of 

 1903, to be normal, viz., 60,000 kilos., but in consequence of the 

 drought it reached 45,000 kilos, only. The drought of 1904 

 checked the flowering for 1905, and a crop of 36,000 kilos, was 

 the result. A repetition of the period of drought in 1 905 led to 

 an almost complete failure of the flowering season for the crop of 

 1906, when the total amount cured will not exceed one-third of 

 an average crop, and will be as small as that for 1900, without the 

 saving grace of high prices. Favourable weather in 1906 promises 

 a good flowering season for tho crop of 1907; the vines are in 

 good heart, and it is probable that — as far as a forecast is possi- 

 ble — the crop should be up to 50,000 kilos. 



What the failure of the vanilla means to Seychelles may be 

 illustrated by the fact that, for the term of ten years before 



