Prof. Chas. Morren on the Cultivation of Vanilla. 7 



continent; and in 1773 Fus^e Aublet described the prepara- 

 tions of this fruit, which subject M. Schiede resumed in 1829. 

 At the present time it is an important object of the commerce 

 of the Mexicans, as may be learnt from the works of M. von 

 Humboldt. 



§ IV. Detailed Description of the Cultivation of the Vanilla, 



I find that the Vanilla planifolia is as common in the gar- 

 dens of the British Islands as in those of the continent, but 

 the complaint there generally is that it very rarely flowers. 

 I attribute this want of flowering to two causes; 1st, that al- 

 most everywhere the plants are too small, too young, and 

 that they are not allowed to grow freely in the most lofty 

 heated and humid houses ; 2ndly, that a pecuhar culture is 

 not bestowed on them. I shall try to make good these two 

 assertions. 



The Vanilla plant in order to flower should be at least five 

 or six years old. The older and larger it is, and the more 

 branches it has, the better and more abundantly it will flower. 

 Nevertheless, the number of flowers is not in direct propor- 

 tion to the vigour of a plant ; for I have two plants thirty feet 

 high, but perhaps about a hundred feet long, one of which is 

 much more feeble and sickly than the other, and the weakest 

 bears more flowers than the stronger one. The quantity of 

 flowers has more relation to the situation than any other cir- 

 cumstance ; but in general old plants are necessary, and horti- 

 culturists are quite wrong in throwing away their old plants. 



Secondly. — I have found by experience that the best me- 

 thod of cultivating the Vanilla is the following : 



The situation should be shady ; being behind and around 

 palm trees and Dracaenas, &c. suits it, at the back part of the 

 hot-house, getting sun at intervals, although the sun is not 

 necessary for ripening the fruit. Shade, heat, and humidity 

 are three requisites for obtaining flowers. 



The soil which I have found the best is simply coack or 

 burnt coal, without mixture of earth, and above white wood 

 poplar, or birch, crushed and reduced into small pieces ; fre- 

 quent watering ; an iron column, a stem of Draccena, or any 

 other support will aid the climbing of the plant, which sends 



