72 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



longer. However, it is undoubtedly a climbing Orchid, and 

 one would like to see it grown as such. There is no saying 

 what stems 20 feet or so long would produce in the way of 

 flowers. 



V. Hookeriana, a native of Malaya, has the habit and 

 general characters of F. teres ; but the leaves are shorter, 

 the scape is longer, and the flowers are about half the size 

 of that species. The colour of V. teres is white or rose, 

 the lip being yellow or purple ; that of F. Hookeriana is 

 a delicate yellow and pink, with a purple and white lip. 

 There are not many old plants of V. Hookeriana in cultiva- 

 tion in British collections, for it is rather a difficult plant 

 to keep in health. On the other hand, few Orchids are 

 easier than F. teres. Both species enjoy sunshine and 

 plenty of water in the growing season. 



VANILLA 



Vanilla is a genus of climbers. About fifty species have 

 been described, but only one of them has any claim to con- 

 sideration as a garden plant, and that is Vanilla planifolia, 

 which yields the Vanilla of commerce. A native of Mexico, 

 it is now widely cultivated in tropical countries. " From 

 historical accounts we know that Vanilla was used by the 

 Aztecs of Mexico as an ingredient in the manufacture of 

 chocolate prior to the discovery of America by the Spaniards, 

 who adopted its use ; and Morren states that it was brought 

 to Europe as a perfume about the year 1510, at the same 

 time as indigo, cochineal, and cacao, and ten years before 

 the arrival of tobacco " (Kew Bulletin). 



The plant is said to have been in cultivation in this 

 country in 1807, when, according to Andrews, it flowered 

 in the garden of the Right Hon. Charles Greville at Pad- 



