98 APPENDIX. 



of the inner face of the style, which makes artificial fertilization an indispensable 

 process, and which simply consists. in removing the pollen from the anthers of the 

 flower and applying it to the stigma with a small camel-hair brush ; this is best 

 done about mid-day during bright sunny weather. 



A brush is used in England, but the anther itself may be applied. Some 

 growers look after fertilization in the cool of the morning ; if this be preferred, a dry 

 morning should be chosen. 



DURATION OF THE PERIOD OF RIPENING. 



The duration of the period of ripening from time of fertilization is generally 



about nine months, when the pods become of a yellowish-green colour, and the 



valves show a tendency to open (dehisce) at the lower extremity, which is a sure sign 



of ripeness. 



HARVESTING THE PODS. 



Most of the pods are harvested in Mauritius during the month of July ; but as 



the plants come into flower very irregularly, all the pods cannot be harvested at the 



same time, so that those found unripe at the first gathering must be waited for 



until they show the usual signs of ripeness ; for if gathered sooner they will shrivel 



during the process of drying, and fetch but a small price in the market. Should any 



of the pods, however, be left on the plant until the valves have opened (if more than 



half-an-inch they are useless), they should be at once removed, the opening part tied 



up, and plunged for a moment in boiling water, and afterwards put through the 



usual process of drying with the other pods. 



DRYING AND PREPARING THE PODS. 

 The drying and preparing of the pods is undoubtedly a most difiicult item in 

 Vanilla cultivation, and if not thoroughly understood, all previous labour with the 

 plant will be lost. 



The different methods of preparation, as practised in Mauritius, are more or 

 less as follows. A large oven (similar to that in which ordinary bread is baked), 

 with two valves on the top, and a thermometer fixed in the ironwork in front, is 

 heated by the application cf fire beneath until the thermometer indicates a heat of 

 40 degrees Centigrade, or 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The fire is then withdrawn, and 

 pods, in quantity of about 60 or 70 lbs. together, are well wrai)ped in banana leaves, 



