File:Vanilla culture in Puerto Rico (1948) (19947226614).jpg

Title: Vanilla culture in Puerto Rico
Identifier: CAT31289489 (find matches)
Year: 1948 (1940s)
Authors: Childers, Norman Franklin, 1910-
Subjects: Vanilla; Orchids
Publisher: Washington, D. C. : U. S. Dept. of Agriculture
Contributing Library: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Digitizing Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library

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VANILLA CULTURE IN PUERTO RICO 33 or two in the soil or it may be laid in leaves and in either case covered with 10 to 15 inches or more, of mulch. Observations on Catalina soil (12) at Mayaguez show that maximum rooting is obtained when the cuttings are not placed in soil but covered with mulch only. However, the growers in the Morovis area have obtained satisfactory results by covering the lower end of the cutting with soil. The planting practice to be followed probably depends to some extent on the soil and rainfall conditions. The top portion of the cutting is tied snugly to the support tree with raffia, strips from banana leaves, soft jute string, or similar materials. At least half of the cutting should be covered with mulch;
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Figure 2*3.—Two systems of planting are used in Puerto Rico. (A) : The vanilla cutting is planted with about 2 or 3 nodes exposed and the other nodes are covered with 12 to 15 inches of mulch, and the lower end of the cutting is left exposed to reduce likelihood of disease entering through the cut end. (B) : The lower end of cutting is covered with 2 to 3 inches of soil, on top of which is placed 12 to 15 inches of mulch. Note the small roots appearing 4 weeks after planting. This method of planting is particularly adapted to well-drained soils. the usual practice at this station is to leave only two or three nodes exposed above the mulch. If the cutting is long, the lower end can be curled loosely on the ground around the base of the support tree. The lower end of the cutting should be left slightly exposed above the ground in order to reduce the likelihood of diseases entering the cut end. The best time for planting is at the beginning of the rainy season, which in most regions of Puerto Rico is about May or June. However, this varies and in some regions other months may be more desirable.

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