175 



the outside ; the rest are tied up as a core, being kept in position 

 with a few turns of the fibre tying cord, while the chosen 16 are 

 carefully placed round them. Great care must be taken that the 

 quality be the same throughout each bundle, as bundles whose 

 core would be found inferior to the outside would be absolutely 

 boycotted by the buyers. The bundle is tied either in three places, 

 near (say one third of an inch from) each end and in the middle, 

 or in two places, an inch or more from the ends, according to the 

 length of the bundle. The core-holding string is pulled out before 

 the final tie is fixed. Any kind of good fine twine may be used 

 for tying. If kept tied some time before being packed the bundles 

 set, as it were, and retain their neat shape. 



PACKING. 



The finished product, being sorted and tied up into bundles 

 according to the length of the pods, is finally packed into tin 

 boxes of different dimensions according to the length of the 

 bundles ; each box containing 10 to 12 pounds. 



The usual size measure I2h to 8| inches in width, by 4| inches 

 deep. Each box has a label pasted on it which bears the grower's 

 or shipper's trade-mark. As some chemical action is set up when 

 vanilla rests in contact with tin or iron, thin vegetable parchment 

 paper is placed in the boxes to keep the two apart. The lids are 

 then soldered at the four corners and in the middle at each side, 

 and the tins packed in wooden cases, 6 in each and thus des- 

 patched to market. 



VALUE. 



Messrs. E. A. dePass & Co., writing on 28th, June last, say : — 



"The present value of the fine black vanilla varies from 12/6 to 

 15 per lb. according to the length while the red variety only 

 fetches 6 to 10/. These values, although much lower than years 

 ago, must be considered as good. Indeed they are several 

 shillings higher than the prices which ruled 6 months ago but 

 there is no prospect of any serious decline." 



The thin parchment paper can be obtained from Messrs. 



•Grimwade & Son, 39 Queen St., Cannon St., London, E.C., in two 



qualities, viz.. D. Crown Transparent at 4' per ream, and D. Demy 



Transparent at 6/ per ream. The latter appears to be the more 



suitable. 



PARA RUBBER: DISTANCE AND INTERPLANT- 



ING.° 



By Herbert Wright. 

 On a previous occasion the subject of distance in planting, in 

 connection with Hevea brasiliensis, was discussed, and a certain 

 amount of interest has since been displayed in the subject. It 

 appears necessary, however, to discuss this matter in detail, and 

 to definitely state that I am not in favour of close planting any 

 more than I am in favour of the wide planting of Para rubber 

 trees ; any misconception is no doubt due to the brevity of my 



* From "Tropical Agriculturist," Vol. XXVIII, No. I, Jan. 1907. pp 2-9. 



