168 MOZAMBIQUE 



For the next two years work in the plantation 

 will consist of training the vines over the sup- 

 ports as they continue to grow, protecting them 

 from the sun's rays ; keeping their roots well 

 mulched and the ground clean of weeds. In the 

 depth of the rainy season it may be necessary 

 to open out the mulch and give the sodden ground 

 an opportunity to dry, but it must be closed up 

 again in good time lest the delicate bleached 

 roots get touched by the sun and wither. 



The first flowering may be expected the third 

 year, and in Quelimane the season would probably 

 begin in September or October. Some months 

 before this the growing points of the vines 

 should be nipped back, in order that the ener- 

 gies of the plants may be directed to producing 

 flowers. Nipping back the growing ends as they 

 reappear, and training the last length of 3 

 feet upon which the flowers will form, so that 

 it hangs down and is free to enjoy a full measure 

 of light and air, will be the principal work till 

 flowering begins. A vanilla flower blooms for 

 one day; pollination must, therefore, be per- 

 formed the day it opens. The process is a very 

 simple one, consisting in lifting with a slender 

 sharp-pointed stick or long thorn the lip of the 

 male organ containing the pollen mass and 

 pressing it gently down upon the female organ 



