498 



VANILLA. 



monopoly, and fixed at the rate of 3s. per lb. on the best, and 2s. on 

 tbe second quality. It was then reduced in 1837 to 2s. Qd., and 2s. 

 in 1841 ; on the 1st June, 1842, to Is. per lb. ; on the 1st September, 

 1848, to 4:d. per lb., and a few years afterwards it was wholly 

 abolished. 



The duties on imports levied by the British Customs on cinnamon 

 were, in 1830, 6d. per lb. on British grown, and Is. on foreign. The 

 home consumption then was 40,588 lbs. In 1841 the consumption 

 had declined to 15,625 lbs.; the duty was then reduced 50 per cent., 

 and in 1852 the consumption had recovered to 36,325 lbs. In the 

 following year (4th June, 1853 ) the duty was lowered to ^d. per 

 lb. alike on the British and foreign; the consumption of that year 

 being 43,000 lbs., the consumption in 1859 had reached 50,789 lbs. 

 In 1860 the duty was abolished, and, as has been already shown, the 

 consumption was trebled in quantity. 



Vanilla. — One of the most profitable and least troublesome cultures 

 of humid tropical climates, is certainly that of the Vanilla orchid, of 

 which there are several species, as the true vanilla ( Vanilla planifolia, 

 And., V. sativa, Scheede), V. aromatica ; the wild or simaroma, (F. syU 

 vestris,) a variety of V. planifolia, and the pompona (F. Pomjpona). 

 This orchid is indigenous to the hot regions of Eastern Mexico, but 

 grows from thence to Peru, on the American continent, and has been 

 diffused by cultivation through the West Indies, the Indian and 

 Pacific Islands. The plant, which is rather fleshy, and has large 

 green inodorous flowers, grows in moist and shady forests, climbing 

 the trees by means of its aerial roots. 



Mexico. — The finest vanilla is the Mexican. The chief seats of pro- 

 duction are the coast regions of the State of Vera Cruz, the centre of 

 the culture being Jicaltepec, in the vicinity of Nantla. It is likewise 

 obtained on the western declivity of the Cordilleras, in the State of 

 Oaxaca, and in lesser quantity in those of Tabasco, Cheapas, and 

 Yucatan. The eastern parts of Mexico exported in 1864, by way of 

 Vera Cruz and Tampico, about 44,000 lbs. of vanilla, chiefly to Bor- 

 deaux. Since then the production seems to have much declined, the 

 importation into France having been only 15,112 lbs. in 1871, and 

 4363 lbs. in 1872. Papautta, Vera Cruz, produces excellent vanilla. 

 The value of the export of vanilla from Mexico in 1873 was 

 473,038K. 



The culture is very simple. Shoots about 3 feet long having been 

 fastened to trees on the approach of the rainy season, and scarcely 

 touching the ground, soon strike roots attached to the bark, and form 

 plants which commence to fruit in three years, and remain productive 

 for thirty or forty. The plantations are cleared once a year from 

 weeds and undergrowth. 



Several varieties are recognised by the growers. One, the " vanille de 

 ■ cochon," is so called from emitting an offensive smell whilst drying. 

 The harvest begins about December, when the fruit becomes yellowish- 

 green, as it is not allowed to arrive at maturity. There are two ways 

 of preparing it for the market. In one method the fruit is allowed to 



