The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-08-29
VANILLA CULTIVATION IN HA-
WAII.


The vanilla bean is the cured fruit
of a vine belonging to the orchid
family. The term bean" is mis-
homer, as the plant is not a legume.
The elongated fruit pods are from five
to eight inches long and the size of
lead pencil. They are black, glossy
and somewhat wrinkled on the sur
face and contain thousands of exceed
ingly minute black seeds.
The vanilla plant is a native OF
Mexico. In 1903 Andrews gave the
| name Vanilla planifolia to the best
variety, known there as mansa o fina-
Today this plant is found wild in the
light forests of Southeast Mexico, Peru
and on Luzon, Philippine Islands. 1t is
also extensively cultivated in the pro-
vince of Vera Cruz, Mexico, and on
the islands of Reunion, Madagascar,
Mauritius, Java, Fiji, Tahiti and the
Seychelles. The plant is a fleshy dark
green perennial climber, adhering to
trees by its aerial roots. Ir a vanilla.
plantation there trees are called SUP
ports. The vine attains the thickness
of a finger and grows singly for con-
siderable height. When nipped or bent
over a number of shoots are thrown
out, which bear fiower-clusters, each
Welding ten or more flowers. The
flowers open about five weeks after
they burst through the buds. The pods
grow - their full size in five weeks,
and mature in about seven months.
Temperature. 1t may be stated in a
general way that the vanilla plant re-
ouires a mean temperature of a de-
grees f. anC abundant rains during
two-thirds or three-fourths of the year.
The production is more abundant and
of better quality in countries having
distinct dry season. The humidity
should be about 20 degrees and the
soil always moist. The temperature
must not be subject to sudden changes
and should not go too high and never
below 40 degrees F.
Soil. Any soil is suitable. provided
the drainage is good. Light soil and
porous subsofl should be given the
preference. The best locations are
valleys with slight slopes. where
moist atmosphere and protection from
strong wind may be obtained. Forest
land or land which has been covered
with a dense growth of lantana should
be selected. The decaying leaves and
later the decaying branches and /
trunks will furnish the necessary hui |
mus.
The Plantation. Clear the lanC Dy I
means OF brush hooks and cane knives .
and dig out guava roots. Cut down ,
all large trees not wanted for wind
breaks. and cut up the large branches.
Trees having a diameter Of less than
six inches are left standing. Next
Law out the fields and set out addition
al trees for wind-breaks. 1t must be
well understood that a vanilla planta-
ton needs protection from strong
wind. II is not sufficient TO protect
from prevailing winds only, but the
field must be protected in all direc-
tons Trees must not only be planted
around a large plantation. but lines Of
trees should be set at intervals through
the fields The lines for the supports
may then be marked by stakes. These
lines should be 5 feet apart and the
the trees planted at intervals OF
six TO eight feet. Low-growing
trees which do not shed their bark.
should be selected for supports. The
following are recommended for Ha-
wall: Spondias lutea. CHOg plumb;
Erythrina lithosperma. Coral tree);
Crescentia. CCalabash tree); Bauhinia
est. Thomas tree). togeth-
or with the small trees which have
been left standing, provided they are
nearly in line All others should be
cut out unless wanted for wind-breaks
OF shade.
Choice Of cuttings. The method Of
propagation is by cuttings. The ship
ment Of plants is made during the dry
season, when growth has been check