The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-08
HOW VANILLA IS GROWN IN HAWAII Interesting Process of Pollena- ting The Blossom AND CURING THE BEAN It Is One of the Most Profitable occu- pations on the Islands
 of the Mid
 Pacific.
Rx WALTER J. TAYLOR.

By WALTER J. TAYLOR.
 Honolulu, Hawaii.-The growing of the vanilla bean of commerce has attained siderable importance in Hawaii where a number of successful small plantations have been producing for number or years. Jared G. Smith, late director Of the United States Agricultural Experiment station in Honolulu, gives the following in- teresting description of the growing of vanilla in his book, Agriculture in Hawaii"
 "The vanilla bean is the cured and fer mented fruit of climbing orchid. The finished pods are very dark brown or black. glossy somewhat wrinkled on the surface from five to eight inches long and about as thick as a lead pencil. The vanilla. extract of commerce is simply an alcoholic extract
 "The vanilla plant is grown either on a trellis or is planted at the base of a tree so that it can chamber up the trunk. Any soil is suitable, provided the drain age is good. It grows well in regions or abundant rainfall on the Kona (south or southwesD side of the islands. A mean temperature of from 65 degrees to 75 de- grees gives good results.
 "The plants are propagated from cut tings, which are simply lengths of the vine itself, from two to six feet long. The length of the cutting has some relation to flower production, the longer ones yielding flowers in a shorter period. The leaves are cut from the lower end of the cutting and the stripped portion of the stalk Is buried horizontally under two or three inches of soil and rotting leaves. upper end of the cutting is fast ened to the trunk of the supporting tree to which it soon becomes tightly attached by it's aerial roots.
 "The vanilla plants begins to flower dur ing it's second or third year and continues flower production until seven or eight years old. Cultivation consists in keeping down the weeds and underbrush in the plantation
 "rThe vanilla plant only bears pods when the flowers are hand pollenated. This Is a delicate operation not difficult to learn. Any one who attempts it becomes quick ly proficient so that good many flowers can be pollenated in the course of a day. The pod natures in from six to eight months, becoming hard, thick and green ish-yelow. They are gathered before ripe.
 "The curing process is somewhat com plicated one. After gathering, the green pods are spread out and exposed to the air for "A hours, being roughly assorted into grade according to size After being graded, the pods are sweated between the folds of wooden blankets exposed to the heat of direct sunshine. During the period of fermentation the pods turn dark brown, becomes soft and leathery and sweat -aaIrr T6af de orr ma T fnnlqfad eral days until the proper degree of color and aroma have developed. After the fermentation they are dried in the sun for few hours and finally in cloth covered trays in the shade with gentle heat. When fully dried, that is when the pods no longer lose weight but are still moist and pliable to the touch, they are packed tightly in tin boxes and are again manip- ulated in bulk for one or two months. When completely cured the pods are sorted to size and color, tied in bundles and these packages packed in tin lined boxes which are soldered when full
 '"The yield per acre in Hawaii has been estimated at about 1900 pods, pro- ducing about 120 pounds of finished vanilla beans fully cured and ready for the market.
 '''The industry is a very profitable one for persons having sufficient means who will give this industry their personal supervi- sion. The price of the vanilla bean de- bends as much upon the outward appear ance of the finished product as upon it's actual quality as indicated by aroma and flavor Care is therefore necessary st every stage in the growth and fermenta- ton of the crop.
 Five acres of vanilla in bearing should yield from $40O to $500 worth of beans per acre per annum after the third year. There are vanilla plantations in the Kona Ina ic1a nf the Kona district of Oahu near Honolulu. Much land is still available which is en- tirely suitable for the cultivation of this crop"