II 
VANILLA 
79 
Fiji Islands . — A few attempts have been made to 
produce an extensive culture of the plant here, but 
there is as yet but little exported. 
Honolulu. — The Agricultural Station Eeport of 
Hawaii for 1903 gives some account of attempts to 
introduce and develop the industry here. In 1902 two 
plants produced 300 pods, and in 1903, 150, about a 
quarter being of good size and quality. The writer says 
that plants over-cropped soon die, the roots and stalk 
rot, or the whole vine becomes yellowish, the leaves soft 
and white, the tendrils (aerial roots) dry and the plant 
dies. He estimates the following returns from an acre 
in Honolulu : — 
Each plant produces 10 pods ; there are two plants 
to a support, and 680 supports to an acre ; this gives 
13,600 pods. 1000 fresh pods weigh 45 lb., 13,000 pods 
give 58 lb., which when cured weigh 120 lb. ; one-half 
of this should be of good superior quality, valued at 6 to 
9 American dollars a pound, the balance valued at 1*25 
to 4 dollars a pound, giving a return of 435 dollars, i.e. 
£87 per acre. 
Australia . — Nothing seems as yet to have been done 
in the cultivation of vanilla in Australia. Mr. Howard 
Newport, however, in an article on vanilla culture 
in Queensland { Queensland Agricultural Journal, 
April 1910, p. 184), urges the cultivation to the atten- 
tion of the planter. He shows the suitability of the 
forest, soil, and climate, a temperature between 70° and 
90° Fahr. and a rainfall from 50 to 60 up to 200, well 
distributed, with August to October (the flowering season 
of the vanilla) fairly dry months. His photographs 
show that he at least has cultivated some successfully, 
and there really does not seem to be any reason why 
Australia should not grow its own vanilla. 
Summary . — It will be noticed from this distribution 
of the cultivation area that it practically extends from 
lat. 20 N. to lat. 20 S., but that of this area a consider- 
able portion is more or less unsuitable ; part doubtless on 
account of its long dry periods, such as on the mainland 
