72 SPICES 



CHAP. 



the heat and droughts at their worst, and in this case 

 an evergreen is what is required as a shade tree. In 

 the equatorial districts of the rain forest region all the 

 trees are evergreens, or if they do shed their leaves are 

 bare only for a day or two. The choice of suitable shade 

 trees is therefore much larger. Leguminous trees, such 

 as Inga saman, possess one great advantage in that they 

 close their leaves in the evening and in dull, wet weather, 

 thereby allowing the plants beneath them to get the 

 full value of dew and rain, while during the hotter part 

 of the day the leaves are expanded and shade the plants 

 so as to prevent excessive loss of water by transpiration 

 and actual burning by the sun rays. At the same time 

 the shade they give is not too dense. 



Africa, Mainland. The cultivation has been experi- 

 mental, and though in many places it has been proved 

 that the plant can be grown and can be depended upon 

 to produce well, the culture has not been taken up or 

 spread to any extent. 



Zanzibar. The plant was introduced compara- 

 tively few years ago, but seems to do well, and there is 

 every probability of its proving successful if taken up. 

 In 1901 there were 3000 vines in cultivation. In a 

 recent Annual Report of the Director of Agriculture of 

 Zanzibar, Mr. Lyne records that vines of four years of 

 age gave 12*13 flowers to a plant, those of one year old 

 *13 flowers. He fertilised 14,826 flowers and obtained 

 13 '5 71 Ib. of pods, which when dry sold at from 6s. to 

 12s. a pound. 



French Congo. The plant was introduced by Audry 

 Lecomte in 1852, but his plants all died. It was re- 

 introduced by Father Klaine in 1873. He brought a 

 single plant from Paris to Libreville and from it estab- 

 lished a small plantation. In 1904, 47 kilos of pods 

 valued at 27 francs the kilo were exported, and in 1906 

 this was increased to 263 kilos. There is, however, 

 only the one plantation, the natives not having as yet 

 taken up the cultivation. 

 ; Congo Independent State. Vanilla has been in 



