JAMAICA, 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



Vol. IX. AUGUST, 1902. Part & 



VANILLA CULTURE AS PRACTISED IN THE 

 SEYCHELLES ISLANDS. * 



By S. J. GrALBRAITH. 

 GENERAL CONDITIONS. 



Vanilla cuttings are said to have been first introduced into the Sey- 

 chelles Islands in 1866, probably from Bourbon (La Keunion), where 

 the plant was grown extensively after sugar began to fail, about 1850, 

 Plantations were gradually established and extended by the multipli- 

 cation of these original plants and from others subsequently imported, 

 and for many years now the colony's prosperity has largely depended 

 on vanilla. 



If kept free from disease it is a plant of extraordinary vitality; and 

 here, where moisture and heat, its main requirements, are both ample* 

 the sort of soil it is grown in seems to be of no great importance, pro- 

 vided that, if it be very poor, the roots are kept well supplied witk 

 manure. It is cultivated in the Seychelles from near sea level to 1,80® 

 feet altitude, and does well (except for disease) at all altitudes between 

 these extremes. 



The rainfall is generally about 100 inches — that is in Port Victoria, 

 which lies low ; m the hills the precipitation is probably from 10 to 3d 

 per cent greater ; and in drier districts, away from high lands, where 

 little timber is left, it must be considerably less The fall is fairly 

 evenly distiibuted throughout the year, but a dry spell, which is 

 necessary to bring vanilla into flower, is to be looked for in July, Au- 

 gust, or September, while the heaviest rains most frequently come in 

 December. Even where rain has not fallen for some time the air is 

 very moist, and for want of more exact information on this head it 

 may be stated that, generally speaking, in the hills common table salt 

 will deliquesce in a day or two if left uncovered. The range of shade 

 temperature for day and night from sea level to 1,800 feet, may be put 

 at 90° to 70° F. The former is exceptional, the latter frequent, 

 especially in early morning when the monsoon is blowing. Occasion- 

 ally 68° may be registered, but seldom lower. Of soils, three very 



*U._S. Dept. of Agrioulture, Division of Botany, Bulletin No. 21, 1898. 



