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column; the side lobes of lip, separated as show a in Fig. 2, are 

 represented at back of the column] ; a, the position of polle i 

 masses, taken from the anther and placed on the stigma. 

 Fig. 4. — Enlarged front view of top of the column ; a, the anther. 



Fig. 5. — Enlarged side view of top of the column ; a, the anther ; b, the 

 etigma, or viscid surface on which the pollen masses must be 

 placed to ensure fertilization. 



Fig. 6. — Enlarged section through top of the column ; a, one of the 

 pollen masses in siiu ; b, the stigmatic cavity. 



Fig. 7. — Enlarged section through top of the column; a, the pollen 

 masses, having been transferred from a, Fig. 6, are now re- 

 presented in contact with the stigmatic surface. [Although 

 diagramatically shown, these figures give a tolerably good 

 idea of what is actually necessary in order to produce fertili- 

 sation in a Vanilla flower.] 

 The whole affair is very much easier done than described, and wifck 

 flowers fairly numerous an ordinary hand will fecundate a hundred or 

 so per hour. Early morning, from 7 to 9, is the best time for featiliz- 

 ing ; but the work may be started wi h suarise and carried on well into 

 the afternoon, though about midday flowers begin to close some and the 

 work goes slower. Most plants in full erop produce many more flowers 

 than it is adviable to fertilize, for other parts of the vines, besides the 

 checked hanging branches, blossom in favourable seasons, and the num- 

 ber of pods which a vine is able to mature properly must be estimated 

 from the plant's size and condition. In the course of four or five years, 

 though by that time the planted cutting will be spent, if well cared for 

 it will have grown a large quantity of vine ; and as each new shoot, 

 when long enough, sends down aerial roots in its own behalf, it becomes, 

 so to speak, an independent plant and the parent of others If none of 

 the shoots from a strong growing vine have been removed the mass of 

 growth in time becomes enormous, and may be equal to maturing a 

 hundred or more good pods When the supporting tree is stout and 

 furnishes forks enough to admit of the vine being spread out so as to 

 let plenty of air through it the vine may be allowed to accumulate to 

 this extent, and if it gives, say, 20 clusters, each yielding 10 or more 

 flowers, 5 or 6 might be fertilized on each 



But, generally speaking, about 30 pods to a vine is as many as should 

 be left, and he would be a lucky planter who should average that num- 

 ber. In selecting flowers to fertilize those should be chosen which 

 spring from the lower part and from the sides of the flower stalks, 

 from which position they grow straighter pods than those coming out 

 on top. In favourable weather, i. e., moist but not heavy rain (which 

 latter often washes the pollen grains away before they germinate), 

 only a small percentage of flowers will fail of fecundation. In case of 

 failure, the flower drops off in three days or less, but. otherwise remains 

 attached to its stalk and slowly withers ; the gynoitemium adheres to 

 most pods till they begin to ripen ; thus it is easy to see the number 

 successfully fecundated in each bunch, and where enough are secured 

 the rest can be broken off. Later it is advisable to cut clean off with 

 a knife the flower stalk a quarter of an inch or so beyond the last fer- 

 tilized flower. Some planters plaster a bit of sticky clay on the cut 



