82 



SPICES 



CHAP. 



Seychelles in 1906, " is looked upon as the better market when 

 the prices are good, but Paris sales are steadier when demand is 

 dull ; that conclusion is based on the fact that there are regular 

 monthly sales in London, where parcels are sometimes put up 

 for forced sales, whereas in Paris there is no open market, but 

 the principal buyers having standing contracts with the wholesale 

 consumers are ready to buy at a figure which is not subject to 

 market fluctuations. As the price ruled uniformly low during 

 1905, the proportion sent to London was only 46 per cent of 

 the total; in prosperous years the proportion sent to London 

 has been as high as two-thirds." (Colonial Keport, Seychelles, 

 1905.) 



THE PROSPECTS OF VANILLA GROWING 



Inquiries have recently been received by the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture as to the prospects of vanilla grow- 

 ing in the West Indies, and the advisability of the extension of 

 its cultivation. An increased demand has arisen in some of the 

 markets ; by some, the reason for this is stated to be the recent 

 passing of a Pure Food Law in the United States. The chief 

 competitor with vanilla is vanillin, which is artificially produced 

 from eugenol, a constituent of oil of cloves. The Pure Food Law, 

 to which reference has just been made, makes it imperative, in 

 relation to vanilla, that all packages containing artificial vanillin 

 shall have a declaration to that effect on the wrapper or label, 

 and it is explained in some quarters that this has decreased the 

 sale of this product in favour of that of vanilla. The Depart- 

 ment has obtained definite opinions in regard to the prospects 

 in the vanilla markets of London and New York ; before giving 

 these, it will be convenient to review the general position. 



The following were the prices of vanilla on the 

 London market (Messrs. Dalton and Young) in July, 

 September, and November 1909, as given in the Journal 

 d' agriculture tropicale : 



SEYCHELLES 



