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SPICES OF THE TROPICS 



on a pencil, and bringing these in contact with the viscid stigmatic 

 surface. An expert can pollinate from 600 to 700 flowers in half 

 a day. Not more than six flowers in a cluster should be fertilised, 

 and a vine should not be made to bear more than twenty-five to 

 thirty pods, half that number being sufficient for a weak plant. 

 The fruits should be ready for gathering in 8 to 9 months after 

 fertilisation of the flowers, the proper state for harvesting being 

 indicated by a slight yellowing at the end of the pods. The latter 

 when collected are dipped into almost boiling water for about 

 20 to 30 seconds, then placed in the sun to dry, after which they 



VANILLA, SHOWING LEAVES AXD (A) PODS. 



are "sweated," i.e., rolled up in blankets every morning and 

 placed in a closed box to ferment, being taken out and spread in 

 the sun during the day. Excepting the dipping in hot water, this 

 process may be continued for about ten days or more, when the 

 pods will have become brown. In Seychelles, instead of placing 

 the pods in the sun each day, they are spread on trays in a heated 

 room (in a temperature of say 90 to 100 Fah.), between double 

 blankets. After this they are treated in a cooler temperature in 

 the shade, the beans being occasionally squeezed between the 

 fingers and drawn through, so as to render them pliable and 



