II 
VANILLA 
33 
many planters use hardwood posts and bars, the bars 
resting in notches in the top of the posts. They are 
put at a height of from 4 to 6 ft. from the ground, 
and the plants being brought over them and looped up 
as they grow too long. Wire is sometimes used in 
place of bars of wood, but though it has the advantage 
of being cheaper, it has other disadvantages. The 
vines are apt to break over so thin a support. When 
the plants thicken into a mass there is no fear of this. 
Distancing . — In the earlier days of cultivation in 
the Seychelles the vines were planted so closely that 
the workers could hardly pass between them. The 
yield per acre was enormous, but when the disease got 
among the vines the destruction was so rapid and 
complete that this close planting was abandoned and 
more space left among the vines. About 9 ft. apart 
is the distance recommended. 
Preparation of the Ground . — It is not at all desir- 
able to clear the ground by felling and burning, as is so 
commonly done in tropical agriculture. The waste of 
good plant food by burning is very great, and though in 
the case of many cultivations it is the most inexpensive 
method of clearing the ground in the way it requires, 
there is no need for this in the case of vanilla. The 
ground should be opened up by cutting down all scrub 
and unnecessary trees ; afterwards chopping them to 
pieces and allowing them to decay in situ so as to form 
food for the vanilla. 
In the case of the ground being bare of shade trees 
and open and exposed to the sun, banana plants, or in 
Mexico maize, are utilised as shade for the young 
plant until the trees on which it is intended to let the 
vanilla climb are sufficiently tall to give the necessary 
shade. 
Delteil recommends the planter also to plant a hedge 
of red hibiscus round the plantation to protect the 
plants from the wind, especially when the site selected 
is on the seashore. Whether this is necessary or not 
will depend on the position and exposure of the planta- 
D 
