VANILLA 165 



planter arc directed towards inducing the vanilla 

 to llower, as without a good flowering he cannot 

 expect a good crop of fruit. He therefore regu- 

 lates his shade to let as much light as possihle 

 into the plantation without allowing the sun's 

 rays to strike the vines. 



The roots of vanilla are of three kinds, but 

 only the aerial roots, which hang down and enter 

 the soil or strike from the buried end, concern the 

 planter. These tender roots creep along the 

 surface of the ground, or just underneath it, and 

 are liable to rot if there is too much moisture, or 

 to rupture if the soil becomes too dry and cracks. 

 Clay soils should therefore be avoided, as also 

 light sandy soils that heat intensely in the hot 

 weather. Well-drained loams are the most 

 suitable. 



The light natural forests of Quelimane, by 

 thinning out here and planting a tree there, 

 would provide good natural top shade ; and where 

 it is required to plant, a selection can be made 

 from quick-growing trees such as Grevillea 

 robusta, Erythrina, Pithecolobium, Ceara rubber, 

 Central American rubber. Flamboyant and the 

 many species of ficus monopolize the surface 

 with their roots and should be rejected. 



The vanilla is not trained up these shade trees, 

 though it will climb them whenever it gets an 



