THE JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY. 



There seems to be no precise record as to whether or not all of these 

 species yield fragrant fruits, capable of use as Vanillas, but it is certain that 

 the larger part of them do so. Neither is it certain that there is not among 

 them some other one or more species, which, by cultivation and improve- 

 ment, might be made to yield a vanilla equal or superior to that now 

 yielded by the V. planifolia and its varieties. The fact that the use of 

 vanilla dates back to prehistoric times leaves us in doubt as to whether 

 the quality of this fruit, as known at present, may not have been the result 

 of improvement by methods of cultivation of a product which in a wild 

 state was more or less inferior. Certainly, the field for experiment in the 

 way of cultivation and hybridization of species at present uncultivated is 

 most attractive. 



Although vanilla is not obtained for economic purposes, so far as known, 

 from any other orchids than those of the genus Vanilla, we are by no 

 means certain that this may not result in the future. I have collected in 

 the Andes representatives of a distinct genus, Sobralia, very closely re- 

 lated to Vanilla, the pod of which develops a strong vanilla-like odor upon 

 maturity. 



The flowers of an orchid growing in Switzerland have a strong odor of 

 vanilla, and have been found to yield considerable vanillin. 



As regards the production of fruits for commercial purposes from the 

 wild plants, it may be said that it reaches very considerable proportions. 

 Even among the Indians of Bolivia I have seen the fruit, of a species un- 

 known to me, collected and traded in, each fruit bringing about 6 reals, 

 equal to some .35 of our money. I have also collected vanilla in a wild state in 

 Venezuela, but there was no one of whom I could inquire as to whether it 

 yielded a useful fruit. Passing out of the reach of such uncivilized dis- 

 tricts, we find that considerable quantities are produced without cultivation. 

 and presumably from native species, in various tropical countries. 



It is, however, the V. planifolia which is chiefly concerned in collec- 

 tion. This species is very widely cultivated, the principal regions being in 

 Mexico and Bourbon, or Reunion Island. The West Indies, Java, Mau- 

 ritius, Ceylon, the Fijis and the Straits Settlements also yield important 

 supplies. Good scented fruits have been produced in European hothouses, 

 but, of course,, not upon a commercial scale. 



The methods of cultivation differ widely in the different regions, but are 

 all based upon certain principles deduced from the study of the habits of 

 the plant in its wild state. Its history in a state of nature is as follows: — 

 It inhabits the richest form of forest land, always completely protected 

 from salt sea breezes, the crevices on a rocky hillside being one of its 

 favorite haunts. It is of terrestrial growth, quickly climbing some ad- 

 jacent tree trunk. Although it commonly makes a few turns around the 



