86 SPICES 



CHAP. 



struggling for their existence, to compete successfully with the 

 artificial scent. As a result of this step, it is intended to ask 

 the French Parliament to sanction an increase in the import 

 duty on vanillin to 15 francs per kilo (5s. 5d. per lb.), in 

 addition to an excise duty of 60 francs per kilo (1:1:8 per 

 lb.). Six colonial Deputies, chiefly from Eeunion, are agitating 

 with great zeal for the adoption of the proposal, and it will be 

 a matter of great interest to watch whether it will be carried 

 into law, or whether the French industries which consume 

 vanillin will successfully oppose a scheme under which, in 

 future, they would be deprived of the advantage of being able 

 to employ the most important odoriferous substance. 



The Eeport of Messrs. John Hadden and Co., 

 Salisbury Square, E.G., for September 1909 (given 

 in the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and 

 Federated Malay States), mentions that the offerings 

 of vanilla met a good demand ; fine black sold par- 

 ticularly well, and even foxy red and split had improved 

 in value. 



A general consideration of the above figures and 

 facts would appear to show that the only immediate 

 danger of over-production of vanilla exists in the 

 French colonies ; this is probably because nearly all 

 the vanilla produced by them is marketed in France. 

 The demand in the other markets seems to be fair to 

 good. 



As was stated above, inquiries were made in London 

 and New York by the Department, with a view to 

 ascertaining the positions in those markets. In reply- 

 ing to the first, Mr. J. K. Jackson, F.L.S., sends a copy 

 of a letter received by him from a Mincing Lane expert, 

 to whom he applied for information, which runs as 

 follows : 



The quantities of vanillas now offered on the London 

 market are considerably less than was the case some years ago, 

 and there is a good demand, at increasing values, for all that 

 can be brought forward, so that I am inclined to think that 

 considerably increased supplies would find a ready market at 

 full rates. Of course the quality should approach that of the 

 Bourbon (Eeunion) or Seychelles varieties, and not be of the 

 coarser type, such as Tahitis. If your friends could supply the 



