VANILLA 
II 
77 
plant ultimately dying outright or to within a foot or 
so of the surface/’ 
The writer recommends Alhizzia moluccana as a 
support, as its top is not too dense and allows of a 
broken light and sunshine to penetrate to the plants. 
It is advised to plant the albizzias 12 ft. apart, and 
they will be large enough in one year to allow a vanilla 
to be planted at each tree. The branches of the albizzia 
should be cut off to about 6 or 7 ft. They should be 
weighted to induce them to grow out horizontally, until 
they meet with the branches of the neighbouring trees. 
This seems rather a good idea. Alhizzia moluccana 
is a rapid grower, but normally makes a tall, smooth 
stem running up to 60 or 80 ft. without branches, and 
is in this way unsuited for vanilla, which would not be 
able to grip the bark sufficiently firmly, and if it did 
would soon climb out of reach. As to mangoes, recom- 
mended by M. Gisseleire, they are usually considered 
too dense a shade for vanilla, but were perhaps the 
best trees available in Bengal. There can be no doubt 
that vanilla would do well in many parts of India, and 
might readily be grown as an adjunct to other crops on 
the estate. 
Java . — The cultivation has been successful, and 
a considerable quantity was at one time exported, but 
later the lower prices seem to have caused a large 
falling-off. The pods, which still appear from time to 
time in European markets, are said to have a peculiar 
aroma, like those of the Mexican vanillas, but the produce 
is of a poor colour and often second rate. The greater 
part goes to America. 
1874 
2435 kilos 
1882 
. 1,344 kilos 
373 „ 
1875 
14 „ 
1883 
1876 
. 2297 „ 
1884 
974 „ 
1878 
443-5 „ 
1885 
219 „ 
1879 
373-5 „ 
1886 
83 „ 
1880 
234-5 „ 
1887 
133-5,, 
1881 
139 „ 
1888 
129 „ 
Polynesia . — Tahiti ranks as one 
of the great pro- 
