VANILLA. 153 
of the flower between the thumb and middle finger of the left 
hand, placing the forefinger on the back of the gynostemium to 
support it. Or, between the fore and middle fingers of the left 
hand, held horizontally, place the three upper petals of the flower, 
raising the thumb and keeping it close to the anther. Now, with 
the little instrument held in the right hand, tear the piece of the 
corolla resembling a hood, in order to expose the organs of fecun- 
dation. The end of the instrument is then introduced under the 
upper valve or operculum of the female organ. When this oper- 
culum is completely raised, straight up, the stamen, which at first 
rises with it, tends to return to its original position, bending 
towards the female organ ; this inclination must now be assisted 
with the thumb of the left hand, lightly pressing the stamen 
against the stigma, to which it will adhere. Nothing now 
remains to be done but gently to withdraw the instrument, and 
the flower is fertilized. If, at the end of the third day, the flower, 
which begins to wither immediately after the operation, maintains 
its position on the summit of the ovary, the operation has been 
successful, 
Harvesting the Fruit. 
The fecundated flower decays and dries at the extremity of the 
ovary, and after a few days falls off, leaving the persistent 
gynostem attached to the fruit, which continues to grow for a 
month, but must be left on the stem for six months longer to 
allow it toripencompletely. The first pods to ripen are generally 
inferior to those which mature later. It is most important that 
pods should not be gathered before they arrive at the proper stage 
of ripeness, otherwise they ferment and rot in a few months after 
preparation. The end of the pod begins to turn yellow when it 
is approaching ripeness, but the only certain indication of maturity 
is the crackling sound produced when the pod is pinched between 
the fingers. It is quite as important to avoid gathering the fruit 
too late as too early ; if over-ripe it is apt to split on the stalk ; and 
if not so found, it will split in the curing. It is advisable to visit 
the plantation frequently when the time for ripening approaches 
and pluck the pods from day to day as they reach the required 
degree of maturity, and not detach the entire bunch as is done in 
some countries. 
Some precaution is required in separating the pods from the 
