34 OBSERVATIONS ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE VANILLA PLANT. 



The Vanilla is propagated from slips or suckers, planted at the feet of 

 trees up which they are intended to train, or along walls or open pallisades. 



These slips or suckers should have at least three knuckles or joints 

 (nceuds) ; they may have as many as four or five joints, or may be even 

 longer, according to the capacity of the trees for training, and the shelter 

 they may be capable of affording. 



A plantation of 2,400 slips or suckers, made by me in the month of May 

 in the year 1856, the plants being from ten to twelve feet in length, pro- 

 duced fruit in the same year, and remains in full bearing at this moment. 

 But I ought to acknowledge that these plants had buds which began to 

 germinate immediately. All trees are good for training, with the exception 

 of those which change their bark ; the best sort are the Mango, the Black- 

 wood, the Dragon's-blood, the Jack tree, and the Indian pine, &c, &c. 

 But the Indian pine should not be the only tree selected, on account of the 

 fall of its leaves, which occurs just at the time the Vanilla plant is in bear- 

 ing : the full power of the sun's rays falling on the plant and on its fruit 

 does much harm to both. It will be found preferable to plant the Indian 

 pine between the mango or jack, or other kinds of trees whose leaves will 

 serve to shelter the Vanilla plant during the time of year the shade of the 

 former tree fails. 



These training and sheltering trees ought to be planted at a distance of 

 five feet by four feet, from east to west, or six feet by five, according to the 

 extent of the ground. They may even be planted at the distance of six 

 feet by six feet, and would then look more like a plantation. 



The system of five feet by four, which I have adopted in my new plan- 

 tation, with Dragon's-blood trees, is that to which J give the preference. 

 It is necessary to train these plants from tree to tree, still keeping from east 

 to west, to avoid too large a collection on the same training tree, also to 

 drive a strong stake between the trees to support the plants, and prevent 

 their being shaken, either by the wind, or by the fall of branches upon the 

 interlaced plants. The fall of branches may be prevented, if care be taken 

 to prune the trees regularly. 



In plantations of Vanilla, already formed, and in which the training trees 

 are at greater distances, we must shorten the plants when they grow too 

 high — the clusters may be gleaned to the height of a man from the natural 

 forks ; or, better still, by nailing strong cleats to the trees which have not 

 such forks, in order to reach these plants easily at arm's length, to facilitate 

 their fecundation. It happens, however, that the forks of some trees are 

 so high, that it is necessary to use a ladder. 



The months which are considered the best for planting Vanilla are March, 

 April, and May. Planters may also profit by the months of September, 

 October, November, and December, care being taken to water the plants, 

 should they become too dry during these months. 



The trees selected for training and sheltering ought to afford sufficient 

 shade before the young plants are put down. In the event, however, of its' 

 being necessary to plant, before the requisite shade is available, the young 



