Part 3

In mulching vanilla roots, and especially at crop time, the plants are much more benefited if the mulch be of two sorts, well-rotted leaf mold being put on first for immediate action, and above it a layer of withered fern or the like, which decays more slowly. When heavy top dressings of quick-decaying manure, grass, etc., have rotted down, they get beaten away by rain, the network of roots becomes exposed, and may with advantage be lightly covered with a thin sprinkling of good soil. Obviously it is better to apply this before the roots become bare or visible. The vanilla roots delight in twisting among stones, large and small, and flattening against their lower surface when not embedded in the soil. When these are of a convenient size and handy in a plantation, the root circuit allowed to each vine may be ringed with them. Vanilla may be grown on trees of thick foliage if these are of a sort that will stand being well pruned annually. Wild cinnamon, which gives dense shade, is sometimes used for this purpose, the branches being nearly all cut off each year about pod-ripening time, which also lets the sun get at the vines for flowering. The contrast between former somewhat dense shade, which has grown since last branch trimming, and the strong light let in by the pruning seems to help toward blossoming.

Under large, high trees, wide apart, where to plant vines on other small-growing wood between them would make the shade too close, vanilla may be fixed on tripods of durable wood, the three stakes being tied with wire crosswise, some little way from their top ends, so as to furnish forks over which the vine creepers may climb. High up in the hills here the plants may be grown in this way without any shade at all, but the plan is only suitable for level grounds or moderate slopes.

SUMMARY.

The foregoing account of vanilla cultivation, being the outcome of experience gained in the Seychelles alone, and there chiefly in the hills, may need many modifications to adapt it to different circumstances pertaining to other lands, and, indeed, possibly may be of little use for such. For instance, in a drier climate irrigation might be needful, and it would not be necessary with a reliable, sufficient annual dry period to prepare vines for flowering by checking their sap flow in certain branches, as it is in this colony. This is not found necessary in certain districts where the rainfall is not such as to keep plants growing continuously, for they stop growing of themselves and come into flower without coaxing.

Again, under less favorable growing conditions the vines would need more nutriment and attention to stimulate growth.

These and similar considerations which will suggest themselves to the reader may serve to save a brief summary from appearing too dogmatic.

The following conditions of climate, method of growing, etc., appear to the writer to be most favorable to the successful cultivation and handling of the vanilla crop:

_Climate._--With shade temperature ranging about 80° F., never much above or below it, and a humid, still atmosphere; a rainfall of 80 to 100 inches or more, evenly distributed through ten months in the year, the remaining two months being dry, with occasional short and very light showers--the ten wet mouths for continuous luxuriant growth, the two dry ones to check it and bring vines into flower.

_Soil._--A skin of rich vegetable mold resting on a porous substratum. Failing that, with the above climate, vanilla should do well on any soil if the roots are kept covered with decaying vegetation.

_Situation._--Moderate slopes.

_Shade._--Small-leafed trees to let checkered sunlight through.

_Plants._--Cuttings 10 to 12 feet long of growing shoots, which should not cease growing if planted after the dry season, but go straight on and flower fully in two years.

_Planting._--Either in line on posts and bars, or on shrubs of suitable size and leafage, at the risk of wholesale destruction from disease; or plants well kept apart, each on its own support, so that any vine showing signs of sickness may be removed before infecting its neighbors.

_Culture._--Plantations to be gone through bimonthly; shoots on the ground looped up; climbing branches brought down; decayed leaves, etc., laid on roots for manure when needed. Preparations for flowering according to climate.

_Cropping._--Flowers to be pollinated in forenoon, preferably such as will hang clear and grow straight pods; quantity regulated according to mass and vigor of each vine, but not such as to hinder the start of new growth for more than two or three months. Pods should be gathered every other day.

_Curing._--The slower the better, beginning in a heated room at about 110° F. for some days, then in a cooler one, 90° to 100° F., finishing at ordinary temperature; humidity of air kept down if need be by charcoal braziers.

_Marketing._--Qualities and lengths kept distinct, made up in packets of 50 pods, and neatly packed in tins holding about 12 pounds each.

_Labor._--Cheapness and intelligence are of the greatest importance in vanilla production. The cultivator must himself have his eyes everywhere; the best of labor known here deteriorates quickly if left to itself.

[Illustration]

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Transcriber’s note

Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice.

In this version, the illustrations are placed differently on the page than in the original.

Spelling was retained as in the original except for the following changes:

Page 6: “2. Plan of curing” “Fig. 2. Plan of curing” Page 22: “and upon the whole” “and on the whole”