213 
Mexican Vanilla.—The finest vanilla is still produced in Mexico 
where it has been cultivated for nearly a century. Mr. C. E. Hires (loc. 
cit.), states that the pods are collected in the fall, November or earl 
December, when nearly -— ; the processes of curing, sorting, and 
packing requiring from four to Be months, the crop of this € reaches 
the market in the spring dd summer of the next. ‘The erroneous state- 
ment is still made in the U. S. Dispatsgioby that the fruit is collected i in the 
spring. This is the time of flowering, but according to all authorities 
it will require nearly six months for the fruit to be perfected. Since the 
extensive cultivation of vanilla in Réunion and other French heme 
the exportation of the Mexican to France has rapidly declined. At the 
present time, the United States afford the dora p for this 
roduct 




product. The receipts for recent years were as follow 
—— | Cases. Lbs; | 
1885 - - 806 100,750 
1886 - - 05 75,625 
1887 >- - 1,023 127,875 | 
1888 - - 29 103,625 
1889 - - 852 106,500 | 
1660. =s 0 947 118,375 | 
1891  - is 1,087 | 5,875 | 
| | 

but very slightly attenuated. The colour is a dark brown, and the 
odour is pleasant, aromatic, and characteristic. The surface is ridged 
longitudinally, the ridges being interspersed with finer striations and 
arty excrescences. ‘The pod ge ded plump, and "e: fresh the 
surface is somewhat viscid ; but, nevertheless, there is a roughness to 
the touch, which becomes more pronoune as it gets older and drier. 
Acicular erystals commence to form at the ends and gradually A 
over the surface. The interior is filled with numerous small black seed 
and a 
small ST of Bae 
pci pit Vanilla.—The cultivation of vanilla in Révnion was com- 
menced nearly half a century and has been steadily on the increase 
ago, a 
until now probably 3,000 acres are under cultivation. In 1849 only 3 
kilogrammes were export from Ronee in 1861 this had been in- 
creased to 40,000 lbs., and in t years has not fallen below 
200,000 Ibs. The quality ‘of the Honthon vanilla has likewise undergone 
considerable improvement, so much so that many of the published 
to +5, inch in width at the broadest t part. The lower end i 
slightly attenuated, and the upper gradually m commencing ink 
14 to 2 inches from the point, and is twisted and turned in. In size 
and general appearance they closely resemble the iari and are now 
packed i in bundles closely simulating that variety. In colour they are of 
a dark brown, almost black. "The odour is not unpleasant, but is unlike 
the Mexican, ‘being more like that of Tonka. The difference in odour 
becomes very pronounced on steeping a piece in hot water. The surface 
