VANILLA 69 



woods on vines fully exposed to the sun, were longer 

 and more aromatically scented than those from the 

 shady spots, and having remarked also that the 

 Albizzia and the Jatropha shed all their leaves in 

 the dry season, that is to say, just at the time when the 

 vine most required shade, conceived the idea of planting 

 in full sun. M. des Grottes saw a plantation of this 

 type at Androdoat, where there was a fine vanillery in 

 full sun, and affirms that the result was most successful ; 

 the vines were full of strength though yellow from the 

 sun's action, which is quite natural. But this single 

 experience cannot be taken as a proof that the system 

 can always be used with success. No absolute rules 

 can be laid down in the cultivation of vanilla. All 

 depends on the actual situation, and methods vary from 

 one country to another and even on different estates. 



The cultivation of vanilla in full sun is subject 

 to certain essential conditions. In the first place, the 

 soil must be perfectly suited for this method of cultiva- 

 tion, and then the cuttings selected by the planter 

 must not be taken from vines growing in too dark 

 shade, which would expose them to a certain check, 

 and thirdly, the mulching of the ground with straw 

 must be perfect. It is essential that the straw or grass 

 used for shading the soil must be completely dry. M. 

 Mersaime urges the attention to several little points of 

 importance in this method of cultivation. He advises 

 that the cuttings should not be planted at the foot of 

 the supports, but at a distance of 30 to 40 cm., and 

 should be led up to the support after the manner of a 

 hammock ; again, he warns against twisting the vines 

 round the supports so that the backs of the leaves are 

 exposed to the sun. Vanilla does not naturally expose 

 the backs of its leaves to the sunlight, and if in twisting 

 the climber round its supports the backs of the leaves 

 are exposed to the sun, they gradually twist themselves 

 round so as to regain their correct position. 



In regard to the question as to what shade trees are 

 best for vanilla, M. Mersaime condemns the banana for 



