Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-06-14

down, the broken portions, sometimes
partly swinging free, have remained
green and capable of growth for up
wards of year, sending down long
aerial roots fifteen to twenty feet in
length, and in some cases where these
have escaped injury the broken plant
may re.establish connection with tho
soil and start to grow again. If
planted clear of the ground and merely
tied to the supporting tree, 1t Is advis.
able to tie two or three large leaves
around each vine for the distance Of
three feet up: thus shaded the aerial
roots quickly burst through the stem.
and, getting something to cling to at
once, soon make their way to earth
without injury.
Price Of Cuttings.
In starting a new vanillery, where
the estate has no plants, these are
readily purchased here at small cost.
From two to three rupees (flfty.ive
to ninety cents) per 100 fathoms is
the usual rate for cuttings, the fathom
being what man can span with out.
spread arms, good sweep of the vine
hanging in a curve between his hands.
Where choice is possible, although
oldish cuttings will grow pretty well,
It is best to have the plants OF recent
growth; in fact, growing shoots, cut
of close to where they spring from the
parent vine, are preferable. At their
point OF origin the nodes for some dis
lance. are close together, and though
Ioots will strike from any joints. they
have natural tendency to do so
quicker at the shoots base. AS torthe
length of cuttings to plant, opinions
differ: but there can be no question
that the longer cuttings produce crop.
ping plants sooner than the short ones.
II q two or three-foot branch is plant.
ca. the shoot 1t gives is invariably
more slender and slower OF growth
than would be that from siX.foot cut.
ting, and up to ten or twelve feet ey.
cry advantage lies with the longer
plants, except the additional expense.
Mode Of Planting.
The question as to whether cuttings
Of that length are to be planted whole
or divided into two or three plants
should be settled by their cost. It is
usual here to loosen the soil with hoe
where vanilla is to be planted, and
bury the end. laid horizontally. an inch
or two in the earth. Quite as good a
way is merely to press the lower part
Of the plant into the soft soil until It
Is flush with the urtaCe. On sloping
land loosened soil washes away soon.
er with heavy rain. and in such situa.
tons II is best to leave the ground
quite undsturbed. In any case the
leaves on that part of the vine which
rests in or on the ground are cut off
fairly close to the stem, and an arm
full of leaves. fern, grass. or forest
sweepings laid on top to the depth Of
three or four inches, for a couple Of
feet around the plant. Its roots will
not need to be mulched for a greater
distance than that for some months to
come, and to cover larger area would
be useless. As new top dressings are
laid on, which must be done when tho
first supply rots down and becomes
thin, these can be gradually extended
to allow of more root spread, till the
limit of four feet radius is reached. If
well covered. the roots do not run
much; only starved vines run far with
their roots. seeking nourishment:
where this is plentiful they mat in and
beneath II. Being entirely surface
feeders, should any make their way be.
yond the cover they can be gently lift.
ed and tucked under the decaying
leaves, etc; but this is a hint that the
plant needs new supply of top dress.
ing. The number OF joints laid on or
In tho coil will NTH ~
OF the plant, but should not be less
than three for this mode OF planting,
while for long cuttings six or seven
joints are needed for a quick start.
Shoots Must Be Watched.
II of sufficient length, the free end
of the planted vine Is hung through a
fork Of the supporting tree, but II Is
also advisable to tie II in two or three
places 20 the tree to hinder swinging
and chatting. The material used for
these ties here Is fiber called vacoa,
which rots in about year. by which
time the plants should have tendril-
like roots enough to steady them.
selves. When once properly planted,
the cuttings will need little or no at
tention for some months, but when
the growth becomes vigorous the
shoots must be looked after. Such of
them as have grown clear of their sup.
ports are hltched up and, II long
enough, hung through one OF the
forks. An occasional tie here may also
be necessary, but in general a leaf or
two OF the growing part can be hooked
on to some other fixed part of the vine
and in few days, unless blown loose,
the tendrils will have fastened to the
leaf, and thus support the plant.
Shoots must not be allowed to climb
very high among branches OF the sup.
porting tree, especially II there be
many and close together, or there will
be breakages In getting them down.
For this purpose, when they get be-
You'd hand reach, a forked stick six |
Or seven feet long is useful. The fork |
IS worked between the tree and climb. |
ng vine, and its tendrils in succession |
are broken by pushing and twisting
he stick when they are within the
ork. The last two or three tendrils
ire easily broken or leave the tree
without breaking, and care should be
aiken when the vine is nearly clear to
,atch the stem of 1t high up, within
he sticks fork; 1t can then be lowered |
GENTLY without fear OF breaking.
An Inch Per Day.
Some judgment Is necessary in SO
Getting the fork of the tree through
which each shoot Is TO hang, fork