II 
VANILLA 
89 
world’s vanilla crops 
“ Mr. Hermann Mayer, senior, sends us the following 
statistics of the 1909-1910 vanilla productions : — 
Tons. 
Seychelles . . . . . . .10 
Bourbon ....... 35 
Mexican . . . . . . .70 
Comores, Mayotte, etc, .... 40 
Madagascar and Nossi Be . . . . 25 
Mauritius ....... 2 
Ceylon, Java, Fiji, Zanzibar, etc. . . 10 
Guadeloupe and Martinique . . .15 
Tahiti . . . . . . .180 
Total (say about) . . 390 
“This quantity falls 110 tons short of the 1908-1909 crop, 
and, as Tahiti shows an increase of 40 tons, the actual deficiency 
in the finer qualities totals 150 tons, or 40 per cent on the 
previous year’s yield, which was of full average extent. Prices 
during the past twelvemonth have moved in accord with the 
statistical position, showing an improvement of 30 to 40 per 
cent for all varieties except Tahiti ; these have profited by the 
shortage of all other sorts and maintained their value, notwith- 
standing the larger returns. Only unimportant balances remain 
in the colonies, and, as new crops are unlikely to be landed in 
quantity before November next, statistically the position appears 
exceptionally sound” {The Chemist and Druggist, April 30, 
1910). 
USES 
Vanilla is chiefly used as a flavouring for chocolate, 
confectionery, and liqueurs, and formerly to a certain 
extent in medicine, as an aromatic stimulant with a 
tendency towards the nervous system, and it was 
formerly used in cases of hysteria and low fevers, and 
also as a flavouring for medicines. It has long had a 
reputation as an aphrodisiac. 
Practically its use in medicine has been now 
abandoned. 
Piesse gives the following account of the preparation 
