A year later, returning from another mission, this time from the Philippines, commander Philibert brings back a second lot of vanilla cuttings. The plant had been identified in the forests close to Manila by Perrotet the botanist, a member of the survey mission; he was also in the former expedition. The vanilla differed from the one brought from Cayenne. Its stem and leaves were smaller. Called “little vanilla” as compared to V. pompona, it was formally introduced in the Reunion Island on May 6, 1820 (Thomas, 1828).
The third introduction is to the credit of Marchant, a local colonial administrator. Benefiting from a trip to France, he pays a visit to the Paris Museum and obtains cuttings of Mexican vanilla. This greenhouse-grown variety stems from the plants brought over by the Marquis of Blenford, constituting the Charles Greville collection at Paddington (England). This particular species was introduced on September 25, 1822 and differed from the two precedents—in fact, it was Vanilla planifolia.
Nonetheless, all those samplings, from Cayenne or Paris, had in common the care shown in their selection and the vigilant concern displayed during their transfer.
A. Delteil, author of a study on vanilla, describes in detail Perrotet’s operations: “He took the stems which measured 4 or 5 meters long, rolled them into rings and laid them down horizontally in the boxes. He watered them moderately so as to prevent the liana’s organic tissues drying up. The boxes were covered with a tight metallic fabric to protect them from the sun glare. They arrived in Reunion after two and half months, in perfect condition, some of them having even developed buds and tendrils” (Delteil, 1884).
In Reunion, the cuttings were subjected to a methodical treatment. Philibert who was accused by the governor for not having delivered the vanilla directly to the Royal Botanical Garden of Saint-Denis justified his choice: “As these different species were collected in various localities, distant from one another, I am convinced that to ensure the success of this plant, it is judicious to disseminate it in various parts of the island with different temperatures; so that if it does not succeed in a region, it may find more appropriate prevailing conditions in others. Indeed, if it comes out well in one spot, success is assured.
Therefore the decision which I’ve taken to distribute the cuttings to a number of inhabitants seems to be the best to ensure the acclimatization of this precious plant. Moreover, I’ve distributed them only to those whose agricultural talents are well-known, such as Mr Hubert: as you can see, this is an additional precaution which I’ve taken” (Focard, 1862).
Thus, vanilla was introduced in Reunion at three distinctive periods by different protagonists. It comes from three separate areas and is made of three different species. Acclimatization will be the result of various factors: the choice of soil and climatic conditions, judicious advice from the individuals having introduced the plant, the vigilance of the authorities, and never-ending care given by the islanders.
A Slave of Genius
Introduced and cultivated in Reunion from 1819, vanilla is not yet a commercial produce as it does not bear any fruit. Natural fertilization of the flower is a haphazard operation because of its morphology (Figure 17.2). Indeed, the male and female organs are separated by a large membrane, which hinders their contact. Direct pollination is impossible and needs the intercourse of insects or of humming birds. In Central America, this essential part is played by small bees (melipone). Without external intervention, the precious orchid is doomed to fruitless sterility.
FIGURE 17.2 Morphology of a vanilla flower. (Lithography from the Album de La Réunion, A. Roussin, 1872, courtesy of Océan Editions.)
To solve such a deadlock, a way had to be found to fertilize the plant by artificial means. Two experiments were launched in Europe: the first in Liege in 1836 and the second in Paris in 1838.
But the methodology proposed, likewise the attempt some years later in Guade-loupe, was abandoned as being highly complex and with a poor record of success.
The most effective process of pollination was discovered in 1841 by a young Reunionese slave; his surname Edmond, slaves having no family names.
He was the property of a rich family of planters in Sainte-Suzanne, the Bellier-Beaumont. Born in 1829, Edmond lost his mother, a female slave on the Bellier-Beaumont compound, at his birth. Although Edmond has no school education owing to his slave status, he develops a rare acumen for horticultural tasks from his master. Meziaire Lepervanche reported that Edmond “identifies all flowers by their botanical names and that on many occasions he attempted artificial caprification on his flowers which for some reason or other cannot be pollinated naturally” (Focard, 1862).
He conducted the same experiment on the vanilla flower, bringing together the male and female components. Edmond was only 12 years old and he discovered the process of artificial pollination in vanilla. A discovery which Fereol Bellier-Beaumont, Edmond’s master, relates in these terms: “Walking around (with Edmond), I noticed on the only vanilla plant that I had, a glossy black pod. I showed my surprise and he told me that he had actually pollinated the flower. I refused to believe him and moved on. But two or three days later, I saw a second pod close to the first one. He repeated his assertion. I asked him how he did it. He performed his manipulation in front of me (. . .) and I had to acknowledge it when I saw the operation repeated each day and every time with the same success” (Focard, 1862).
A year later, in 1842, Fereol Bellier-Beaumont who did not wish to maintain secrecy, wrote an article in the local newspaper Le Moniteur. It did not pass unseen. The piece of good news spread like wild fire throughout the country and Bellier-Beaumont was beset with demands to borrow his young slave. Never in the whole history of Reunion, was a slave so fawned upon as young Edmond (Figure 17.3).
FIGURE 17.3 Portrait of Edmond Albius, inventor of manual pollination of vanilla. (Lithography from the Album de La Réunion, A. Roussin, 1863, courtesy of Océan Editions.)
Planters approached him, “thinking rightly that it was so much simpler and so much safer to deal straight with the inventor” (Focard, 1862).
Edmond’s discovery (Figure 17.4) sparked fortune for many planters; it provided a new agricultural activity and fostered the development of vanilla throughout the world. However, initially it did not bring any reward to the slave, not even freedom. He was set free seven years later, in 1848, and was named Albius, in Latin meaning white. Following his epoch-making discovery, every personal request remained unanswered, either from the authorities or from the vanilla planters.
FIGURE 17.4 Manual pollination of vanilla. (Lithography from the Album de La Réunion, A. Roussin, 1872, courtesy of Océan Editions.)
But worse than ingratitude, and adding insult to injury, Edmond’s discovery aroused jealousy and disputes. Many questioned his merit, pointing out that he was an “illiterate little nigger”; that the discovery was pure luck! Others even claimed copyright and the responsibility of the discovery, putting forward their status and their learning. Others conceded that Edmond Albius was the sole and legitimate inventor of the process of pollination of vanilla, adding that he was a white man.