207 
inoeulation, which then takes place, must be carefully attended to; this 
is generally carried out by women and children Whos se light h nds are 
best suited for the delicate operation. In from six to nine months from 
the time of inoculation the bean will be ripe for ZEE ng and curin 
“ The native method of curing is to keep the beans alternately indoors 
rolled in eloths, and outdoors during the day spread on mats exposed to 
the sun, for periods of three or four days at a time, until they are dried 
and ready for -€ market. The disadvantage, by drying on mats in the 
open, of having beans frequently wetted and deteriorated in value by 
sudden over before there is time to get them under cover, has made 
itself apparent to many native planters who now dry their vanilla in 
boxes with glass covers similar to those used at the Temarua jupes. 
in the district of Papara, which is under foreign managem 
* In this plantation great attention is paid to a is plants, and 
keeping the ground clear from weeds ; the vines are "trained on we 
seleeted supports ; and the process of iddldiatiod] is invariably carefully 
attended to. It may here be remarked that low prices in the market one 
season may render the native planter so indifferent to his interests that 
his plantations may be left entirely neglected the following year, the 
flowers even not being inoculated. 
‘ These le naturally = to the advantage of the Temarua p'anta- 
tion, thoug om steady and goo management its crops invariably 
command the highest aes in nthe market. 
* Curing.—The boxes used for curing the beans are made of iid 
wood with glass covers, and measure 6’ x 4’ x 2'in depth. They are 
usually filled three-quarters full, the beans S iE placed on a blanket 
bottom of each box and covered with a double thickness of 
blanket at the RP. The glass lids are then put on, and the boxes 
exposed to the sun for about 15 days, when the beans are generall 
Aus. to ba sufficiently sweated to admit. of their removal to the drying 
te 
=} 
10 
« This building is constructed throughout of corrugated iron, and 
contains three tiers of wire shelves. e beans are laid on the top tier 
first, then they are anA to the second and third in succession as they 
gradually dry, and remain on the latter until they are perfectly dry x 
fit for the market. 
* Area and Cost of Cultivation.—The Temar ua plantation consists 
of 23 hectares, about 51 acres; 3 hectares of which have been newly 
planted, and will soon be bearing. The planting of these 3 hectares has 
cost the proprietor 105 dol., or 35 dol. per hectare, and when the crops 
are ready for picking they may be valued at 2,500 dol. 
“ Expenses.—The annual expenses of a plantation of this description, 
with an experienced foreman receiving 1,000 dol. per annum, amount 
to about 2,000 dol. 
“ Crop.—The crop —— Lim 100 kilos. to 200 kilos., and in some - 
cases to 300 kilos. per hectare per annum; an averag e, therefore, of 150 
kilos. would give the Steal 3,450 kilos. per nun. and the average 
price being 2 dol. per kilo., he may ealeulate on a clear profit of 4,900 
dol. ie average this year has, however, fallen very much short of 
preceding seasons, owing to the continued rain. 
* Quality.—'The Tahiti vanilla is inferior, to that of Mexico, Bourbon, 
and Mauritius, and this drawback is n iot improved by the careless 
manner in Which the native, and even the European, dries and ties his 
bundles of beans for export, 
