CEYLON COCOA ESTATE 165 



when well cured, and of sufficient size, are 

 extremely valuable, not only are they used in 

 confectionery and to flavour tobacco, but in 

 Germany they are employed as a dye. I have 

 been told of a well cultivated plantation of an 

 acre, in Reunion, which yielded in one year 

 six thousand rupees. 



As the method of preparation is somewhat 

 interesting, I will here set down a few notes 

 that I have culled from translations from the 

 Dictionaire du Commerce de la Navigation, 

 and a paper by M. David de Florit of Reunion. 

 In the first place vanilla flowers have to be 

 artificially fertilized. In its original home in 

 the forests of America, the flowers are fertilized 

 by suitable insects, which do not exist in its 

 adopted homes. This is a curious process — the 

 manner in which it is carried out. I will copy 

 from M. de Florit: — " In the flower of the 

 " vanilla the male organ is separated from the 

 " female organ by a light skin, which prevents 

 "the natural fecundation. It is necessary, 

 " therefore, after the flower is completely opened, 

 " to remove this skin with a little instrument, and 

 "by a light pressure of the thumb and the fore- 

 11 finger, to cause communication between the 

 M two organs. Fecundation is made from eight 

 •• to nine o'clock in the morning, till three o'clock 

 " in the afternoon, and may even be carried on 

 "till four or five ; but the pods fecundated late 



