250 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ November, 
be done, in terms which we here quote in a condensed form. I attribute 
failure in the blooming, says Mr. Bennett, “ to not getting the wood well 
matured, for if it is not well hardened it will not fl ower freely. I allow my 
plant at times to get almost dry and parched.” The failure in the produc¬ 
tion of fruit arises from a want of knowledge 
of the art of fertilising the stigma, an operation 
which requires both care and skill. In the 
flowers of the Vanilla, besides the sepals and 
petals, there is the column which bears the 
anther and stigma. The anther (a) is a dilated 
appendage attached to the summit of the column 
by a narrow curved neck, and contains the 
pollen-masses, within a cavity on its lower sur¬ 
face. This appendage, by means of its curved 
neck, bends downwards towards the lower sur¬ 
face of the column, where it rests upon an organ 
called the retinaculum (r), interposed between 
the anther and the stigmatic surface (2), which 
latter lies immediately under the retinaculum, 
and terminates the bearded glandular process 
which covers the lower surface of the column. 
The retinaculum, which is concave towards the stigma, effectually prevents 
all contact between that and the anther, and it is therefore necessary to 
remove it. This is best effected by means of a pair of narrow-pointed for¬ 
ceps, which should be carefully introduced sideways between the anther and 
stigma, so as to seize the retinaculum and tear it off in the direction of the 
anther. The pollen [masses are then drawn out and pressed down on the 
stigmatic surface, and the operation is completed. If this is properly per¬ 
formed, the setting is certain. The fruit takes about twelve months to 
mature. 
The Vanilla should be so trained that the flowers may be easily got at. 
They open for the most part during the night or early in the morning, 
therefore the best time to fertilise the flowers is in the morning ; and this 
must be attended to day by day as long as the plant is in bloom. The 
plant is of easy culture, and grows very freely in a mixture of peat and 
charcoal. It may be trained in any form, and will attach itself to mortar, 
wood, or iron. Having little tendency to branch, the plants are the better 
for being frequently topped to make them throw out side shoots, and to 
secure a greater space for the production of the fruit, which thus grown 
attains high flavour. Mr. Bennett believes that it would be a good specula¬ 
tion to grow a house of Vanilla for commercial purposes. 
