■ THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



5 2 



The Seychelles Islands furnish us with vanilla much inferior to any 

 of these previously mentioned. Its odor is often "smoky'' or "inky." The 

 pods range from 4 to 8| inches in length and are of a light-brown to dark- 

 brown color. They are generally nicely crystalized. England is the chief 

 market for this variety. 



From Guadaloupe we receive a vanilla known as the " South-American," 

 which resembles the Mexican very much in appearance, though much in- 

 ferior in odor. The pods average from 6 to 8| inches in length. The 

 epidermis is quite hard, with longitudinal furrows. They are never offered 

 in this market as South-Americans. 



In addition to the so-called South-American vanilla, we receive from 

 Guadaloupe a variety known as "vanillon." Its odor is that of heliotrope, 

 even surpassing that of the Tahiti vanilla. Its pods are very short, thick 

 and flat, from 4 to 5 inches in length, have a twisted appearance and are 

 of a dark-brown color. Vanillon is rarely used to make extract, its chief 

 consumption being in the manufacture of tobacco flavors, sachets and per- 

 fumery. 



Vanilla imported from Tahiti is almost devoid of the true vanilla flavor, 

 resembling the odor of heliotrope. The pods vary from 4 to 8 inches in 

 length and are flat, very pliable and soft, and of a dark-brown color. They 

 never crystalize. 



Pompona is derived from Mexico. Though it is usually known as "wild 

 vanilla," it is generally accepted that it is not the fruit of wild V. planifolia 

 plants, but of the V. Pompona. The natives, however, state that the V. 

 Pompona is the ancestor of the V. planifolia, and that the latter is the 

 result of cultivation. Its odor is similar to that of the Tahiti, and the pods 

 are very short and thick and covered with a rough skin. Only very small 

 quantities are brought here. 



A variety rarely met with in this market is the Java vanilla. Its odor 

 is much stronger than that of the Mexican pod and equally fine. Its color 

 is reddish-brown; the pods are from 4 to 6 inches in length. When sound 

 and of prime quality, it is nicely crystalized. It is chiefly consumed in 

 Holland. 



Mexican vanilla frequently comes to this market cut up into pieces from 

 £ to 1% inches in length and known as "cuts." These are of inferior quality, 

 being made from wind-falls, pods picked before maturity, split pods and 

 such as are too small or unsightly to pack in bundles. 



The Mexican vanilla, owing to its exquisite odor, commands the highest 

 prices. At present, owing to successive short crops, since a heavy snow 

 storm and killing frost visited the vanilla district in 1893, the ruling prices 

 are from 50 per cent, to 100 per cent, higher than formerly. Short and 

 inferior pods bring $0. while prime ones sell as high as $16 per pound. 



