126 



Cropping. — Flowers to be pollinated in forenoon, preferably such 

 as will bang clear and grow straight pods; quantity regulited accord- 

 ing to mass and vigour of eacb vine, but not sucb as to binder tbe 

 start of new growtb for more tban two or three montbs. Pods sbould 

 be gatbered every other day. 



Curing. — Tbe slower tbe better, beginning in a beated room at about 

 110° F. for some days, tben in a cooler one, 90° to 100° F., finishing at 

 ordinary temperature ; humidity of air kept down if need be by char- 

 coal braziers. 



Marketing. — Qualities and lengths kept distinct, made up in packets 

 of 50 pods, and neatly packed in tins holding about 12 pounds eacb. 



Labour. — Cheapness and intelligence are of the greatest importance 

 in vanilla production. The cultivator must himself have his eyes 

 everywhere ; the best of labour known here deteriorates quickly if left 

 to itself. 



JAVA VANILLA. 



Concerning the profit on the cultivation of vanilla on a small scale, 

 Mr. Ligtvoet, of Java, has given some interesting information at the 

 annual meeting of the Soekaboemi Agricultural Society. He had 

 grown vanilla on a small piece of ground measuring 2 \ acres ; the 

 yield was 172 lbs. The parcel of vanilla was consigned to Amsterdam, 

 and sold there at an overhead price of 15f. per kilo. (lis. 3d. per lb.). 

 The total net proceeds, after allowing for loss of exchange, were £82 

 lis. 4d., and as the expenses in Java had amounted to £2 7s. 2d., the 

 net profit obtained was £80. 4s. 2d. 



The author considers that the cultivation of vanilla in Java would 

 be very remunerative for the small grower. The difference in the 

 price paid for Bourbon vanilla as compared with that grown in Java, 

 is due chiefly to the fine aroma of the former, and also to the fact that 

 pracels of Bourbon vanilla are always of equal quality. He attributes 

 the inferior aroma of the Java product to the fact that, fertilization of 

 the plants is there produced artificially, whilst in Bourbon it is brought 

 about by insects. — Chemist and Druggist. 



Present Price of Yanilla. — At auction on Wednesday about 900 

 tins, chiefly Seychelles, were offered, of which about half were sold at 

 irregular but rather lower prices. Fair to good Seychelles, 7 inches 

 to 8 \ inches, sold at from 13s. to 19s. 6d ; 5 iuches to 7 inches, 6s. 6d. 

 to 14s ; 3J inches to 5 inehes, 5s. 6d. to 7s. 3d. ; and inferior 3s. 

 .3d. to 8s. 9d, per lb. — Chemist and Druggist, 19th July. 



NOTES ON PLANTS IN THE GARDENS. 



Bomb ax malabricum, DC. 

 (Bed Silk Cotton Tree or Simal Tree.) 

 This tree is a native of India, Java and Sumatra. The trunk and 

 branches are covered with large corky prickles. In the winter months 

 the leaves fall, and before they appear again, the ends of the branches 

 are covered with the handsome red flowers. The seed vessel contains 

 red silk-cotton, "simal," which is of the same character as the white 

 silk-cotton, "Kapok" of our native tree, (Eriodeniron anfractuosum). 

 Both kinds of silk-cotton are very useful for stuffing cushions, and in 



