IX VANILLA 



205 



larger scale, trees will have to be specially planted, or posts 

 will have to be fixed in the ground for the vines to attach 

 themselves to. These posts should be of some hard wood Posts. 

 that will not rot in the earth, and to that end the lower por- 

 tion may be charred and afterwards tarred. Unbarked log- 

 wood, calabash, or tree-fern stems may be employed, and the 

 portion out of the ground should be about five feet high. It is Living trees 

 far better, however, that the supports should be living trees, ^Jj^ ^^^^^ 

 and the best for the purpose is the Physic-nut, Jatropha 

 Ciircas^ which may be raised from seed or grown from live 

 posts, which, if put in the ground in rainy weather, will in 

 most instances soon take root. Holes are dug and the sup- Holes, 

 ports planted, in the same way as advised in the cultivation 

 of the pepper vine, except that the distances, at which the Distances, 

 supports are placed, should not be more than six feet. The 

 holes should be filled in with rich loam mixed with sand and 

 decayed leaves, and if the plantation be in the vicinity of 

 the forest, the rich humus found on the surface of the ground Humus, 

 should be used in filling up the holes. The soil must be 

 heaped up so as to prevent stagnating moisture ; indeed it is 

 better to form a bed about six inches above the level of the Beds, 

 ground, and this bed may be prevented from washing down 

 during the rains by encircling it with a rough wall of stones. 

 The three lower leaves of the cuttings are removed, and Setting the 

 that portion of the stem planted three or four inches below cutting.s. 

 the surface ; the remainder of the stem is then tied to the 

 post or tree by a flat band of plantain fibre, or by a cocoa- 

 nut leaflet. Round cord must not be used as it is liable to 

 cut into and injure the green succulent stem of the vanilla. 

 The ground over the buried part of the cutting is then Mulching. 

 mulched with leaves or light brushwood ; and, if dry weather watering 

 come on, frequent waterings will be necessary, until the vine "^'^^^^'T^' 

 has taken root. 



The ground must be kept free from weeds, and unless it be 

 lightly shaded by the growing physic-nut trees, it will be 

 advisable in dry weather to keep the roots constantly mulched. 



