88 
CULTIVATION  OF  VANILLA  IN  MEXICO. 
permanganate,  fused  readily  at  260°  F.,  and  yielded  nitro-cinna- 
mic  acid  with  strong  nitric  acid.  It  is  evident  from  these  results 
that  but  little  if  any  real  benzoic  acid  exists,  and  that  Mr.  Cree- 
cy's  experiment  with  the  sublimed  acid,  testing  by  chlorinated 
lime,  must  have  been  imperfect,  as  a  sublimate  obtained  in  these 
experiments  instantly  developed  oil  of  bitter  almonds,  in  contact 
with  permanganate  of  potassa.  It  is  also  evident  that  the  earlier 
observers,  Bonastre  and  Hodgson  mistook  cinnamic  for  benzoic 
acid. 
The  leaves  and  capsules  of  the  sweet  gum  both  give  a  some- 
what aromatic  odor  when  bruised,  and  are  both  decidedly  acid  to 
the  taste  and  to  litmus.  When  the  green  capsules  are  bruised 
and  thrown  into  alcohol  they  become  brown  after  a  few  hours,  and 
afford  a  brown  transparent  tincture  decidedly  acid  to  litmus  pa- 
per. The  tincture  of  the  fresh  leaves  made  with  alcohol  *817  is . 
green,  decidedly  acid  and  very  astringent.  When  a  per  salt  of 
iron  is  added  a  deep  bluish  black  color  is  found,  the  greater  part 
of  which  is  discharged  by  heating  to  212°  F.  It  is  highly  pro- 
bable that  gallic  acid  exists  to  a  considerable  extent  in  these 
leaves,  but  I  have  not  had  time  to  verify  the  supposition.  Ac- 
cording to  Prof.  C.  W.  Wright,  of  Kentucky,  the  bark  contains 
so  much  tannic  and  gallic  acid  as  to  be  valuable  as  a  remedy  in 
diarrhoea. 
In  concluding  this  paper,  the  writer  regrets  that  he  has  not 
been  able  to  decide  the  question  he  had  proposed  to  himself,  viz  : 
the  preparation  of  liquid  storax  corresponding  with  that  of  the 
Levant,  yet  without  asking  a  continuance  of  the  subject  he  still 
hopes  to  accomplish  it,  now  that  access  is  to  be  obtained  freely  to 
the  south-west. 
Philadelphia,  Sept  1,  1865. 
ON  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  VANILLA  IN  MEXICO  * 
The  vanilla  is  a  climbing  plant,  and,  like  the  ivy,  rises  from 
the  ground  by  the  help  of  the  trees,  which  it  finds,  and  which 
it  almost  covers  with  its  foliage.    Its  stem,  which  is  of  the 
*From  Miiller's  Reisen  in  den  Vereinigten  Staaten,  Canada  und  Mex- 
ico, in  Vierteljahresschrift  f.  Pharmacie. 
