ii VANILLA 87 



right grades of vanillas, I have no doubt that they would meet 

 a ready sale, and at remunerative prices, and we might again 

 see London the chief market for vanillas. In spite of the 

 ever increasing demand for the synthetic vanillin crystals, the 

 beans still hold their own. 



The inquiry in New York was made from Messrs. 

 Gillespie Bros, and Co. Part of the letter of reply from 

 this firm stands as follows : 



We have interviewed the principal broker in vanillas, and 

 also one of the largest users. Neither of them is inclined to 

 attribute the present high price of vanillas entirely to the 

 Pure Food Act, but rather to short crops and an increasing 

 demand. The Pure Food Law has probably had some effect, 

 but articles such as vanillin, which is a synthetic vanilla, is 

 being used in as large quantities as ever, and its sale is not 

 prohibited so long as the packages are clearly marked vanillin. 



The broker advises us that there is always a ready sale 

 for vanilla of good quality, but was unwilling to name any 

 price as being obtainable for an article or quality with which 

 he was not entirely familiar. He laid great stress upon the 

 fact that the value of vanillas depended almost entirely upon 

 the curing and the packing, but, on the whole, was inclined to 

 encourage planters to go in for the cultivation. 



The consumer, on the other hand, is not in favour of 

 attempting to grow vanillas on a large scale in the West Indies. 

 He says that he has himself several times tried to work up 

 the trade in two or three of the islands, and that his experience 

 is that there is not sufficient labour, or cheap enough labour, 

 to enable the article to compete with the 'products of other 

 countries. He admits that, on present prices, the vanilla could 

 be grown with good profit in the West Indies, as prices are 

 two or three times as high as were obtainable three years ago, 

 but in his opinion there will be a large crop next year, and 

 price will adjust themselves. He points out that it takes three 

 years before the vines will bear, and that as the present high 

 prices have now been in force for two or three years, the older 

 planters in the other islands, who planted immediately, have 

 now got large new plantations just about to commence bearing, 

 and it is for this reason that he expects a decline in the 

 market. 



This particular buyer obtains practically all of his supplies 

 from France, and tells us that, whereas in former days he used 

 to be able to buy in London to good advantage, the fact that 

 the Bourbon (Ke*union) Island vanilla has to go to France, has 



