655 



so far, appear to have superseded the Vanilla pod, it is a prospect 

 worthy of consideration for cultivators. The preparation of the 

 pod is an industry suited to the resources of small proprietors 

 {Director, Kew, to Colonial Office, 18th Aug. 1885; Kew Bull. 

 Jan. 1887j p. 5), and with this in mind also, cultivators wall be 

 well advised not to place entire rehance on it. The cultivation 

 served a good turn in Reunion in 1850, when it was taken up 

 on the failure of the Sugar Cane, and became the mainstay of 

 the island (see Kew Bull. I.e.) : but this was before the competition 

 with '' VaniUin," and although there is still a good market for 

 ** Vanilla," a similar success would perhaps now not be so certain. 



In 1890 Vanilla planifoUa was being grown at Abutshi, but 

 Woodruff, at that time in charge of the Niger Company's Planta- 

 tions there, reported that it had not been very successful (Kew 

 Bull 1891, p. 94). 



The plant may be propagated by seed, but it is usually 

 increased by cuttings : established in nursery beds they may be 

 planted out in permanent places on supports about 9 ft. apart.' 

 Rich, Hght, well-drained soil, shade, protection from strong 

 winds and a tropical chmate with a good rainfall during growth 

 are essential conditions. Various plants have been advised for 

 support and shade, the choice depending largely on local condi- 

 tions. Amongst those suggested are Erythrinus (see p. 214), 

 Bixa orellana (p. 57), Eriodendron anfractiiosiim (p. 87), Albizzia 

 Lehhek (p. 299), Croton Tiglium (p. 592), Jatro2)}ia Curcas (p- 593), 

 and Elaeis guineensis (p. 734). Bananas and similar crops may 

 be grown until the supports are large enough to furnish sufficient 

 shade. FertiHsation of the flowers by hand appears to be necessary 

 in most countries other than Mexico; plants begin to bear after 

 3 or 4 years, and each plant will bear many more flowers and 

 fruits — according to number fertihsed — ^than it should be allowed 

 to carry, approximately not more than 50 per cent, of the pods 

 may be left to mature ; which may take from 4-6 months to ripen. 

 The drying and curing require great care, and various processes 

 by means of hot water, sun heat, or artificial heat, are resorted 

 to in different countries : that with the aid of calcium chloride 

 practised in Reunion is fully described in Kew Bull, 1898, 

 pp. 43-46, and that in St. Kitts-Nevis — briefly, immersion in 

 hot water (80° C. recommended), sweating at a moderate tem- 

 perature (50^ C. giving good results), drying slowly (about two 

 weeks) at room temperature, and packing in air-tight tins — 

 (Perfumery and Essential Oil Record, Nov. 1919, p, 306). 

 Other j)rocesses, together with further particulars on the cultiva- 

 tion are given in the following works. 



Bef. — "Vanilla," in Pharmacographia, Fluckiger & Hanbury, 



pp. 657-660 (Macmillan & Co., London, 1879), -^^ Vanilla: Its 



Cultivation in India," O'Connor, pp. 1-25 (Supdt. of Printing, 



Calcutta, 1881). La Vanille : Sa Culture et sa Preparation, 



Delteil, pp. 1-58; pis. i.-ii. (Challamel Hine, Editeur, Librairie 

 Algerienne et Coloniale, Paris, 1884). "Vanilla," in Kew Bull. 



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