_Climate._--With shade temperature ranging about 80° F., never much above or below it, and a humid, still atmosphere; a rainfall of 80 to 100 inches or more, evenly distributed through ten months in the year, the remaining two months being dry, with occasional short and very light showers--the ten wet mouths for continuous luxuriant growth, the two dry ones to check it and bring vines into flower. _Soil._--A skin of rich vegetable mold resting on a porous substratum. Failing that, with the above climate, vanilla should do well on any soil if the roots are kept covered with decaying vegetation. _Situation._--Moderate slopes. _Shade._--Small-leafed trees to let checkered sunlight through. _Plants._--Cuttings 10 to 12 feet long of growing shoots, which should not cease growing if planted after the dry season, but go straight on and flower fully in two years. _Planting._--Either in line on posts and bars, or on shrubs of suitable size and leafage, at the risk of wholesale destruction from disease; or plants well kept apart, each on its own support, so that any vine showing signs of sickness may be removed before infecting its neighbors. _Culture._--Plantations to be gone through bimonthly; shoots on the ground looped up; climbing branches brought down; decayed leaves, etc., laid on roots for manure when needed. Preparations for flowering according to climate. _Cropping._--Flowers to be pollinated in forenoon, preferably such as will hang clear and grow straight pods; quantity regulated according to mass and vigor of each vine, but not such as to hinder the start of new growth for more than two or three months. Pods should be gathered every other day. _Curing._--The slower the better, beginning in a heated room at about 110° F. for some days, then in a cooler one, 90° to 100° F., finishing at ordinary temperature; humidity of air kept down if need be by charcoal braziers. _Marketing._--Qualities and lengths kept distinct, made up in packets of 50 pods, and neatly packed in tins holding about 12 pounds each. _Labor._--Cheapness and intelligence are of the greatest importance in vanilla production. The cultivator must himself have his eyes everywhere; the best of labor known here deteriorates quickly if left to itself. [Illustration] * * * * * Transcriber’s note Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. In this version, the illustrations are placed differently on the page than in the original. Spelling was retained as in the original except for the following changes: Page 6: “2. Plan of curing” “Fig. 2. Plan of curing” Page 22: “and upon the whole” “and on the whole”