VANILLA 167 



Incomati, would provide cuttings without injury 

 to themselves for several vanilla plantations. 

 Frangipani, anatto, and hibiscus may also be 

 used ; though anatto is apt to become too leafy, 

 and frangipani too bare of leaves. Cuttings of 

 jatropha should be 4 or 5 feet long, branched 

 if possible for over-looping the vines, and should 

 be planted in the ground to a depth of 1 foot. 

 They strike quickly, producing leaves in a few 

 weeks in good growing weather. 



Vanilla is propagated by cuttings, and as roots 

 strike from every joint in a healthy slip there 

 is a temptation to plant short lengths of 3 

 feet or less to make the plants go as far as 

 possible ; but this is mistaken policy, as by 

 planting short lengths the period before the first 

 flowering may be extended to four years. Cut- 

 tings should be at least 6 feet in length ; if 

 9 feet some of them will flower in two years. 

 Cut the leaves away from the bottom three nodes, 

 and plant this naked strip in a shallow hole at 

 the base of the jatropha, allowing the extremity 

 of the cutting to curve upwards and protrude 

 about 2 inches to prevent it rotting. Loop 

 the vine over the live supports, securing them 

 gently with palm-leaf ties ; mulch the ground at 

 the base of the plant with a thick layer of 

 grass or leaves. 



