212 
CCLXV.—SOME VANILLAS OF COMMERCE. 
In the Kew Bulletin 1888, p. 76, an account was given, with a plate, 
of the Vanilla plant. It was pointed out that, with the exception of 
Mauritius and the Seychelles, a vanilla industry had not assumed an 
important position in any British colony. Since 1888, however, a very 
successful attempt has been made to start a vanilla industry i in the Fiji 
Islands. Samples of a esat were received in this country last year, 
and they were very favourably received. As indicating the im 
of the world’s produc etið of Vanilla, the following paper, prepared by 
r. Beringer and published in the America Journal of Pharmacy, is 
. reproduced from the Pharmaceutical Journal, J aly 2, 1892 :— 
While the home of the vanilla is Mexico and South America, its 
cultivation, originally greatly encouraged by the French Government, 
has been extended by individual enterprise, till now the plant is culti- 
vated in numerous and widely distributed countries; as, for instance, 
the West Indies and some of the islands of the. Indian and Pacific 
oceans, e essentials being a mean temperature of E 5° to 80°, and suffi- 
issued in r. Hires described the oai pee as a parasite, 
stating that “ it takes its life and sustenance pate the Mexican red 
* cedar, which abounds in that country." This error is being repeated, 
“ the plant has a long, fleshy stem, and attaches itself by its aérial root- 
“ lets to trees, and appears to be little dependent upon the soil for its 
“ nourishment.” While epiphyte in its character, clinging to forest 
trees for support, it is not parasitic, obtaining its support "principally 
he 
cultivations in the islands of the Indian De the plants are supported 
or a considerable length upon rudi trellises. 
: The products of the Java vanilla hree are pone os Be Holland 
and do not reach this country. e varieties entering our markets 
being the Mexican, Bourbon, Seychelles, Mauritius, "Tahiti, Pes 
American, and Vanillons, with occasionally a few poun of unknow 
origin brought in by trading vessels. The products of Mauritius ae 
the Seychelles are usually shipped to London; while m m the 
French goe ons, reo Tahiti, Mayotte, &e. 4 go to Fra 
U. S. Consul Horace G. Know les, of UN reports (ede Us 
Consular posee Saptanibed 1891, 127, as follows :—“ Paris, London, 
& and New York are the markets of the world for da The greater 
“ portion imported into Franee comes from her colonies, Guadaloupe, 
* Madagascar (Saint Marie), Mayotte, Réunion, and ‘Tahiti. Just 
z vu M at the products have been may be judged from the following 





j Pn Sainte ve 
— Réunion. | Guadaloupe. | Mayotte. Maso. Tahiti. 
| 
lbs. lbs Ibs Ibs Ibs, 
1 164,28 — — — 
1885 155,548 9,532 2,640 8,800 18,350 
1886 361,587 12,100 4,774 18,260 
1887 417,230 — 6,820 2,596 16,610 6,600 
. 1888 . 462,660 9,044 19,195 19,195 6,490 
| 1889 | 506,462 — — — 7,018 



