The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-18
CULTIVATING VANILLA
A TROPICAL PRODUCT THAT MIGHT
BE MADE PROFITABLE.
Our New Possessions Cause the Agri-
Into the Nature of the Plant.
Special Correspondents indianapolis Journal.

territory and the present and prospective
movement OF American capital and enter
prise to those islands, directs attention of
scientists to the fact that there are many
tropical products as yet practically I'M
known there, whose cultivation would he
highly profitable The vanilla bean is be-
lieyed to be one Of these. The Department
of Agriculture has been investigating the
habit of growth, the cost of production and
the probable profits from it's cultivation un-
der favorable conditions, and Secretary
Wilson states it as his opinion that there is
every prospect for a successful establish
ment of vanilla culture in Hawaii and Porto
Rico. Mr.. Wilson's position is this:
II believe first" said he, that the States
should produce everything possible within
their own borders and send no money out
side for anything that can be grown at
home, and to this end we are working here
in the department.; next, I believe now that
the United States has come into the pos
session of tropical territory, it should assist
those regions TO grow the balance of prod
ucts required by the country. With varied
conditions to be found in the lowlands the
valleys and the mountains of our new
island possessions, it is undoubtedly posi-
BILE to grow a great diversity of products
and all that is needed is information and a
little intelligent assistance to make them
produce abundantly of articles now largely
imported from countries of the old world.
Why, the vanilla is a native of America;
but the enterprising planters of Seychelles,
Bourbon, Mauritius, Madagascar, Tahiti
and other islands lying in Eastern waters,
saw it's value long ago, transplanted 1t
thousands of miles and have got rich
from it's cultivation. Suppose we bring it
back now to American territory
"One thing" continued Mr.. Wilson, 'of
great Importance which planters in Porto
Rico. Hawaii and other tropical territory
will have to contend with is the ravages of
disease liable to be imported at any time
into their territory There is no proper plant
quarantine regulation in those islands and,
before it is known. disease may be intro
duced and spread all over them. The plant
ers of Porto Rico and Hawaii are in con-
slant danger of being swamped by the i'm
portation of some fungous disease or plant
insect which may devastate their planta-
tons.
RISK OF IMPORTATION.
ain this very crop of vanilla, the danger
is imminent No surer method of destroying
in advance the hope of establishing this
highly profitable industry could be con-
ceived than that of carrying out the thought
which would first occur to an enterprising
American cultivator, namely, sending to the
islands in the Indian ocean, where vanilla
culture is highly developed, for a stock of
live plants or cuttings to use in starting
a vanillery for the reason that there is to
be found in those islands a fungous disease
of vanilla, which spreads with great rapid
ity. causing the total destruction of large
plantations in a month. Planters, however
enterprising, are careless about importing a
disease of which they know nothing and
which they may regard as mere runlors
and the only thoroughly practical method
Of safeguarding our new domains in this
respect is to restrict the importations Of
plants or seeds to those inspected By gov
eminent official who is competent plant
pathologist'
The vanilla, as Secretary Wilson states, is
native of the American tropics. 1T Is a
climbing orchid, the pod of which furnishes
the vanilla havoring. 1t will live and grow
for months without any sort Of contact with
the earth, but to produce beans proftably
it requires a rich soil. 1t will not endure
the slightest touch of frost or chilling
weather. Mr.. d. G. Fairchild, of the Sec
ton of plant introduction, has been looking
up the subject for the Department of Agri-
culture, and will publish complete descrip-
ton of how the crop is raised in the
Seychelles islands. In those islands it thrives
at an altitude of |. 800 feet and at all inter-
mediate points between that and sea level.
The vanilla vine grows wild in shady
places, climbing on old trees and stumps,
and in setting plantations of it some shade
must be provided. Living trees are used as
supports for the vines, those being festooned
from fork to fork, while poles and bars as
well are placed across, over which the plants
are hung, being looped up as growth pro-
crosses. The shade required is about half
shade. through which the suns rays can
sift softly. The vine can be grown as well
on trees with thick foliage, if these are of
a sort that will stand being well pruned an
nually. Wild cinnamon is sometimes used
for this purpose, the branches being nearly
cut off each year about pod-ripening time.
Straight-stemmed palms are also used for
supporting the vines, hardwood pegs being
driven into their trunks at suitable heights,
upon which the vines are hung as in tree
forks.
OF EASY GROWTH.
The vanilla is propagated entirely from
cuttings, which are inserted slightly into the
ground and then hung upon trees. The best
cuttings are ten or twelve feet in length.
II planted following the dry season they
continue growth with undiminished vigor,
and bear hearty crops in two years.
A singular feature of vanilla culture is the
need of hand polarization; the flowers have
all to be fertilized artificially. With a small
stick like a toOthpick the pollen is brought
into contact with the stigma, thus insuring
the growth of the bean. Pods grow to their
full size in six weeks, but it takes some
eight months for them to ripen. They must
be picked when just exactly ripe. which is
indicated by a slight yelloWing of the pod.
To insure getting them at exactly the right
stage the plantations are picked over every
other day. The curing process is quite
elaborate on the large plantations, consist
ing of immersing in hot water, sweating and
drying in the sun or by artificial heat.
When finished they are tied up in neat bun
dies of fifty pods each and packed in tin
boxes holding twelve pounds. A vanilla vine
in full bearing will yield as high as one
hundred pods. though a good average
through the plantation is said to be from
twenty-five to thirty. The pods average
from six to nine inches in length; the nine
inch ones average about sixty-tive to the
pound, the six-inch ones about 80 to the
pound The average market price in Lon
don is stated at about S. per pound. The
average import price in the United States
during 1897 was $685. There were imported