125 



what dense shade, which has grow since last branch trimming, and 

 the strong light let in by the pruning seems to help toward blossoming. 

 Under large, high trees, wide apart, where to plant vines on other 

 small-growing wood between them would make the shade too close, 

 vanilla may be fixed on tripods of durable wood, the three stakes being 

 tied with wire crosswise, some little may from their top ends, so as to 

 furnish forks over which the vine creepers may climb. High up in the 

 hills here the plants may be grown in this way without any shade at 

 all, but the plan is only suitable for level grounds or moderate slopes. 



SUMMARY. 



The foregoing account of vanilla cultivation, being the outcome of 

 experience gained in the Seychelles alone, and there chiefly in the hills, 

 may need many modifications to adapt it to different circumstances per- 

 taining to other lands, and, indeed, possibly may be of little use for such. 

 For instance, in a drier climate irrigation might be needful, and it 

 would not be necessary with a reliable, sufiicient annual dry period to 

 prepare vines for flowering by checking their sap flow in certain bran- 

 ches, as it is in this colony. This is not found necessary in certain 

 districts where the rainfall is not such as to keep plants growing con- 

 tinuously, for they stop growing of themselves and come into flower 

 without coaxing. 



Again, under less favourable growing conditions the vines would 

 need more nutriment and attention to stimulate growth. 



These and similar considerations which will suggest themselves to 

 the reader may serve to save a brief summary from appearing too dog- 

 matic. 



The following conditions of climate, method of growing, etc., appear 

 to the writer to be most favourable to the successful cultivation and 

 handling of the vanilla crop : 



Climate. — With shade temperature ranging about 80° F., never 

 much above or below it, and a humid, still atmosphere ; a rainfall of 80 

 to 100 inches or more, evenly distributed through ten months in the 

 year, the remaining two months being dry, with occasional short and 

 very light showers — the ten wet months for continuous luxuriant growth, 

 the two dry ones to check it and bring vines into flower. 



Soil. — A skin of rich vegetable mould resting on a porous substratum. 

 Failing that, with the above climate, vanilla should do well on any soil 

 if the roots are kept covered with decaying vegetation. 



Situation. — Moderate slopes. 



Shade. — Small-leafed trees to let checkered sunlight through. 



Plants. — Cuttings 10 to 12 feet long of growing shoots, which should 

 not cease growing if planted after the dry season, but go straight on 

 and flower fully in two years. 



Planting. — Either in line on posts and bars, or on shrubs of suitable 

 size and leafage, at the risk of wholesale destruction from disease : or 

 plants well kept apart, each on its own support, so that any vine show- 

 ing signs of sickness may be removed before infecting its neighbors. 



Culture. — Plantations to be gone through bimonthly ; shoots on the 

 ground looped up ; climbing branches brought down ; decayed leaves, 

 etc., laid on roots for manure when needed. Preparations for flower- 

 ing according to climate. 



