8 



good packages of the same size substituted, the boxes closed, soldered 

 and labelled. 



To provide against loss during rainy weather, the sweating must 

 be accomplished by artificial heat. Good results can be obtained 

 by the use of a bake oven or coffee-drying house. The vanilla is put 

 up in packages of certain size and shape and wrapped in woollen 

 blankets and mats to prevent overheating. The drying can be com- 

 pleted in a heated drying house. 



The sorting, curing, drying, classifying and packing must be done 

 by an experienced man. A well equipped central curing establishment 

 with an experienced foreman would, therefore, be very desirable from 

 an economical point of view. 



Yield. This has never been properly ascertained in Hawaii. The 

 wild vanilla plant of Mexico bears one, two and rarely five pods, all 

 of superior quality. Two cultivated and hand pollinated plants at 

 Moanalua. Oahu, produced 300 pods in 1902. and 150 pods in 1903, 

 about one-fourth being of good size and quality. This only indicates 

 what may be accomplished by cultivation, but is neither practicable 

 nor advisable on a large plantation. Plants yielding a very heavy 

 crop may become exhausted. The roots, and sometimes the stalk, rots 

 away or the vines turn yellowish green, the leaves become soft and 

 white, the tendrils dry and the whole plant dies. A yield of 10 pods 

 for ordinary and 20 or even 25 pods for strong, healthy plants should 

 be a safe limit. One a basis of 10 pods per plant. 2 plants to each 

 support, and 680 supports per acre, a yield of 13,600 pods would.be 

 secured. One thousand average good pods weigh 45 pounds, and dry 

 to half their volume and about one-fifth their weight during the cur- 

 ing process; 13.000 pods weigh 585 pounds, and the finished article 

 about 120 pounds. At least one-half of this should be of superior qual- 

 ity and sell for from $6 to $9 per pound, f. o. b. Honolulu. The 

 balance would bring from $1.25 to $4 per pound. This would give a 

 return of not less than $435 per acre. This, however, can only be 

 accomplished when a fair portion of the finished article is of su- 

 perior quality. 



Diseases. All the vanilla reported to be growing on these islands 

 has been inspected by an expert of this Station and found free from 

 fungus or other diseases, as well as from the various insect pests 

 which affect this plant in other countries. Should any of them make 

 their appearance, planters are requested to at once notify this Station, 

 giving particulars and mailing a specimen of vine affected. 



More detailed information in regard to the cultivation, curing and 

 classifying of vanilla will be given in a bulletin which will be issued 

 by this Station whenever the growth of the industry demands it. 



FRANK B. CONTER, Assistant. 



