102 Report of Schimmel § Co. April/October 1917. 



In a treatise published in 1829; Schiede 1 ) refers to four species of vanilla found 

 in Mexico, namely: — Vanilla sativa, V. sylvestris, V. Pompona-) and V. inodora. The 

 latter has been confounded with the cultivated variety V. sativa and called by Swartz 

 Vanilla aromatica, although the fruit has no smell whatever. 



According to Schiede, Vanilla sativa ("the Baynilla mansa" of the Spanish-Mexicans) 

 is the best sort of vanilla and is cultivated in Mexico, Papantla, Misantla, and Colipa. 

 From more recent information it appears that it is specially grown in the state of 

 Veracruz and that it exists in a state of half-culture in the surrounding forests. The 

 aborigines cultivate the plants which are most suitable for that purpose in the woods 

 and even in the neighbourhood of their dwellings. They treat the pods with particular 

 care in reference to the formation of aroma, whereby they show great skill, as they 

 can depend on the experience of past generations. They are especially experienced 

 in all matters concerning fermentation. 



Vanilla sylvestris ("Baynilla cimarrona") is cultivated in southern Mexico, at Papantla, 

 Nantla, and Colipa. 



In reference to the vanilla varieties found on Tahiti, the authors have been able 

 to study three forms, the Tahiti vanilla, the Tiarei vanilla and the Haapape vanilla which • 

 appears to be related to Vanilla sylvestris. According to their publications the nom- 

 enclature of the vanilla varities would be the following: — 



Vanilla planifolia, Andrews var. sativa ~ Mexico vanilla. 

 „ „ var. sylvestris. 



„ „ subvar. angusta, Constantin et Bois = Tahiti v. 



» » » » » »> » == *■ larei v. * 



„ „ = Haapape v. 



Vanilla has been cultivated for the last 50 or 60 years on Tahiti. Originally only 

 two varieties were known there, the Mexico vanilla and the Tahiti vanilla. Although the 

 Tahiti vanilla produces smaller pods and with a less finer aroma than the Mexico vanilla, 

 it is much more appreciated by the planters because the pods on becoming mature do 

 not open and because accordingly one can let them get black while remaining on the 

 plants. One often leaves the pods on a heap for 2 or 3 weeks after gathering them 

 before they are dried in the sun. Considering the state of affairs on Tahiti, where it is 

 difficult to obtain any manual labour and where the aborigines are exceedingly indolent, 

 this variety is most suitable. Mexico vanilla must be treated with much greater care. 



The two varieties Tiarei and Haapape appeared quite suddenly on the island. The 

 former was observed for the first time about 10 years ago in the Tiarei district. It 

 only blossoms rarely and has to be treated with great care. The Haapape variety was 

 observed for the first time about 2 years ago in a neighbouring district; it bears blos- 

 soms in quantities twice a year. 



The commercial value of the three varieties is the same. The pods have the same 

 aroma, reminding of heliotrope like the Tahiti vanilla. 



Several methods are known for determining vanillin which are mostly based on 

 its conversion into compounds which are difficultly soluble. We recall the methods 

 of Hanus 3 ), founded on the formation of very insoluble compounds of vanillin and 

 /?-naphthylhydrazine or with _p-bromphenylhydrazine and those of Feinberg 4 ) (conversion j 



x ) "Botanische Berichte aus Mexico", Linncea 4 (1829), 573. — 2 ) The mother-plant of the "vanillons". — 

 3 ) Comp. Gildemeister and Hoffmann, The Volatile Oils, 2 nd ed., vol. I, p. 588. — 4 ) 8th International Congress 

 of Applied Chemistry, Washington and New York 1912, vol. 1^ p. 187. — Americ. chem. Journ. 49 (1913), 87; 

 Report April 1913, 124. 



