, 1888-07-25

blO " I0J OOWA II OhONOb 0hO OAO AOSS
and engage in mercantile pursuits, which,
persistently followed, soon raised the Por-
tugese to be the shOpkeeperS of the colO2y
and the holders Of much of its city and
village property. How it could have
been possible for the Portuguese to be-
come the holders of the shop keeping
trade of the colony, and the Coolies the
chief depositOrS in the Savings Banks, if
their condition as labOurers was such as
is described in the foregoing extract, we
leave the 0 POrtuguez to explain. We
regard the article as nothing but a Zero.
ciOus3attack upon the planting and legis-
lative bodies by way of an illogical reply
to the increase of the Rum Duty. Per.
hapS the Planters Association will think
it necessary to ask the editor to Justify
the more reckless of his statements.
Vanilla grdndit1OrG.-I I'm reminded OF
the value of this, the most common n
most robust OF our several native species
of vanilla, by the deliciOusly aromatic fra
GRANGE of a few pods, accidentally discover
ed, hanging ripe and brown on one of my
vines. | have often seen the pods green
in my forest wanderings, but never before
had proof of the rich aroma they emit
when ripe. No species Of vanilla known
to me is so robust, and none so vigorous
in growth as this, nor so easily cultivated.
1t is also one of the most fOriterous OF
species, and would therefore be one OF the
most prolific and profitable to cultivate.
Over the entire alluvial forest belt OF
, Guiana this is one OF our cOmmOneSt or
chids, but like most other vanillaS, pro-
badly owing TO the lack or scarcity OF IN
sects adapted to accomplish the function,
it is only occasionally tertllsed Ill a wild
state. Yet this function must be accom-
pliShed more often than one might sup
pose from the rare occasions that pods are
met with in the forest, or the plants would
not be SO OmmOn. A plant once pro-
ducpd. however. will branch and ramify
and spread in time over the bOughs OF tle
Ian grSt trees. There is a good deal OF
natural propagation, too, and limited dlttu.
sion, by pieces of the vine becoming dis
connected by the breaking of boughs, or
by their own weight, aided by wind or
animals, and falling to the ground near
other trees, where they take root anu
without delay extend their growth on the
new support. Once, on a bright sunny
day, several years ago, Mr.. i'm Tburn ana
I were working our way mp the COrentyne
river in a small corral, when close to the
bank where we landed, open to the full
light and sunshine, was a large mora, the
trunk of which was covered i'll parallel
vertical lines a few inches apart with this
same species, and from top to bottom 1t
was ali in bloom. Never elsewhere have l
experienced so compact a growth and
abundance Of flower on Il vanilla vine.
The effect produced was the more remark
able when it is remembered that vanilla
flowers only last fresh one day, fading
and whitening gradually and quickly after
that. AS however they are produced III
large clusters, the buds expanding one
after another i'll succession, though so
ephemeral, the period the bloom lasts is
considerable. If fertilised by hand every
flower of each cluster will set without fail,
and only by oversight or careless work
need a single one be lost. The clusters OF
pendant finger-shaped pods succeed the
clusters of flower. The fruit OF this spe'
eies is triquetrOus, a character which Tea-
Oily distinguishes it. / am acquainted
with, l think, Judging from memory of
what | have seen in the forest, six native
species Of Vanilla. These are not all
aromatic, indeed only two in my expert
ence are sufficiently so to give them com.
mercial value but | am not acquainted
with the fruit of all in the mature ripe
state, in which only it can be judged.
Vanilla Culture in MericO.-The Chemist
and Druggist, quoting from a ST.. Louis
paDer. gives some details on the cultiVa-