94 
“The large output of vanilla has given a fresh impetus to its 
eultivation and a very large quantity has been planted during the 
past year. 
*« When the country is opened up by means of roads, as will 
shortly be the case, many acres of vanilla land will no doubt be 
taken up Mira at present are uncultivated, owing to the difficulty 
of transpor 
* In one diario alone, the Mare aux Cochons, to which a 
road will be opened, there are about 5,000 acres of virgin pe 
well suited to vanilla. 
*'The culti vation of vanilla only dates back to about 20 years 
“The Mexican system of allowing the vines to grow under 
trees nearly wild is almost universally adopted at present, ves 
is a decided improvement on the old system of training the v 
on artificial supports. I trust that the new mode of roe pe it 
will go far to ensure regular crops. othing pays better than 
vanilla. Its production costs the planter Rs. 3 per pound, ede as 
prices vary from Rs. 8 to Rs. 16 the pound, a net profit of fro 
so 5 to Rs. 13 is the result. This year the average price was 
s. 15 the pound. The yield may be taken to be 200 lbs. an acre. 
z Taking therefore an average of Rs. 10, an acre of vai should 
produce Rs. 2,000. 
* Most of the land in Seychelles is in the hands of private 
owners, and it is difficult to estimate its cost, but it may be 
taken that land can be bought at from Rs. 100 to Rs. 200 
the acre. It has been stated that landowners are reluctant to 
part with their land, but I do not apprehend much difficulty on 
this =a provided that purchasers are prepared to pay ready 
mon 
= There i is some land belonging to the Government well adapted 
for vanilla eten which can be leased for periods varying 
from 9 to 21 yea 
* Seychelles = ‘unfortunately almost a lerra incognita, for I 
nnot help thinking that if the scores of young Englishmen 
Sho leave the mother country year after year for other lands 
knew of it, they would ied RA preference to an English colony 
which offers advantages not to be met with elsewhere for the 
investment ot small "cef say £1,000.” 
The following Saudi ees nies has since passed in regard to the 
quality of Seychelles vanilla :— 
COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
SIR, Downing Street, December 6, 1397. 
I am pets by “ Secretary of State for the Colonies to 
transmit to you, for your information, the enclosed copy of a 
despatch Fen De Administrator of the Seychelles — 
forwarding a cee of vanilla, grown on one of the estate 
those islands 
I am, etc., 
The Directo (Signed) H. BERTRAM COX. 
Royal Gardeni, Kew, 
