June, 1910.1 



501 



Edible Products, 



first the cuttings must be planted in the 

 ground, but as it ascends its support it is 

 not unusual for the original stem to 

 shrink and die away at the ground end. 

 This in no way adversely affects the 

 plant, however as it has meanwhile sent 

 down serial rootlets which, on reaching 

 the ground, become independent sub- 

 terranean sources of supply of plant 

 food ; nevertheless, the greater part of 

 its nutriment is obtained from the at- 

 mosphere by means of its thick fleshy 

 leaves and tendrils or aerial roots. Like 

 all orchids heat, moisture, and shade are 

 essential to its successful culture. 



Soil, Climate, and Rainfall. 



Vanilla requires a rich vegetable soil 

 and a well-drained situation. Sandy 

 soils are too light, do not hold enough 

 moisture, even though shaded, and re- 

 quire manuring ; while clay soils hold 

 too much water and are too heavy. 



Any of the ordinary scrub soils of 

 Northern Queensland having a foot or 

 more of rich leaf mould are just what 

 the Vanilla vine likes best. In climate 

 Vanilla seeks hot, moist conditions, with 

 a temperature between 70 degrees and 

 90 degrees Fahr., which is again what is 

 generally to be found in North Queens- 

 land sdrubs. In the matter of rainfall 

 from 50 to 60 up to 200 or more inches 

 per annum is required, the nearer the 

 average is to the 100 the better, and, if 

 possible, a locality having a well-dis- 

 tributed rainfall for nine or ten months 

 in the year, and two fairly dry months— 

 viz., August to October — is a material 

 advantage. 



Lay. Aspect, and Situation. 

 In selecting a site for a plantation in 

 this country fairly level land may be 

 chosen. A gentle slope is an advantage 

 in preventing the lodging of storm water 

 and insuring surface, and probably also 

 subsoil, drainage. Gently undulating 

 country will do, but the steeper slopes 

 as well as the low-lying hollows should 

 be avoided. Vanilla is a very soft-bodied 

 plant, and, though it wants moisture, it 

 abhors stagnation — so much is this to be 

 avoided that, in some countries, beds 

 6 in. to 1 ft. high; and in a circle of 4 ft. 

 or so in diameter round the supporting 

 tree, are often made by a ring of stones 

 filled in with leaf mould to make sure 

 that water cannot accumulate and stand 

 round the roots— the stones are said to 

 afford the roots protection and keep 

 them cool too. This, however, will not 

 generally be necessary in Queensland. 

 Wind is another enemy of Vanilla, 

 especially where the thick vines are 

 draped in curtains over the supports and 

 can swing and break. A westerly aspect 



may be chosen on this account, though 

 this point is governed by the amount of 

 natural protection to be found on the 

 weather side of the clearing or plantation. 

 Almost any situation may be chosen 

 with the one exception or too great 

 proximity to the sea ; salt air is harmful, 

 keeping the vines poor and stunted, 



Clearing, Shade, and Supports. 



Having selected the site, the next 

 matter to bear in mind is that Vanilla 

 is planted in the open, and special shade 

 trees grown at stated intervals for its 

 accommodation ; this, however, is risky, 

 more costly, involves delay, and is un- 

 necessary here, 



The standing scrub supplies all the 

 essentials, and, as before stated, requires 

 but a brushing. The shade necessary is 

 not dense, but chequered. With too 

 much shade in this country it has been 

 found that the vine grows luxuriantly, 

 but will not bear, and with too little the 

 reverse happens. Where very dense 

 only the big trees may, therefore, be 

 left, and in lighter scrub saplings of even 

 4 in. to t> in. in diameter are retained. 

 When cleared 250 to 300 tiees left stand- 

 ing to the acre, which afford both shade 

 and support, would be about right. 



Humus being an essential, it is highly 

 inadvisable to burn off any brush ; if 

 possible, it is better to pull it into heaps 

 and let it rot. 



As the vines grow they must be kept 

 within reach. They grow quickly, and 

 the natural tendency is to run up the 

 trees to great heights. When this 

 happens the vines are pulled down and 

 draped over supports fastened between 

 the trees, 4 ft. to 6 ft. above the ground. 

 These supports should be hardwood, 

 round by preference, and of 3 in. to 4 in. 

 in diameter, and may be spiked to the 

 trees. If the trees are fairly hardwood, 

 though wooden spikes 12 in. to 18 in. long, 

 and about 1 in. diameter, may be driven 

 into auger holes in the trunks it about 

 the same height, and the vines draped 

 on these. In soft woods like caudle-nut 

 these soon perish, however, and let 

 the vine fall, or possibly even kill the 

 tree. Wire is cheap, easily erected, and 

 fairly lasting, but forms too sharp a 

 bend for the fleshy vines, which are apt 

 to break or be frayed in two if swinging 

 in the wind. 



Two No. 8 wires 4 in. tc 6 in. apart strung 

 from tree to tree may be the best alter- 

 native if wooden bars are not available, 

 or the trees are too uniformly soft to 

 carry spikes, but even then pieces of 

 bark or old sacking should be put be- 

 tween the vine and the wire, as the acid 



