No hard and fast rule can be laid down as to the distance trees should be kept apart. Here formerly, as above stated, vanilla was grown in dense masses with great success for a time. Elsewhere it may be advantageously so grown now. However, it is safe to state that overcrowding in any kind of planting invites disease, and the farther plants are kept apart the more likely are they to remain healthy. A 4-foot radius would be a moderate allowance for the roots of a vigorous vanilla plant, and if 1 foot is kept clear around the circle allowed to each plant’s roots this would give 9 feet as the distance between the trees. It would be difficult to insure the plants being kept distinct in less space. Where suitable trees are already growing on the land to be planted, these can be thinned out if too close, or they may be left in small lots of three or four or more together, a sufficient clear space intervening between each lot; but in that case if one vine of a group showed disease the whole would have to be removed. Many trees stand topping, and it is a great advantage when they do, for on being cut 7 feet or so from the ground branches spring from near the cut part at a convenient height, and the best situated of those can be chosen to train the vines through, the rest that grow awkwardly being removed. About 5 feet from the base is low enough to allow any to grow. Trees being in readiness, planting may be done at any time of year here. If during a wet spell, vanilla will sprout all the quicker; should it be dry, the plants will delay a little, but there is no fear of their missing if properly planted, and the one danger point to guard is where the vine leaves the earth. This part of the vine is burnt through if not shaded with grass or leaves. However, this also would only mean a little delay in the start of growth; for though they take some time longer about it, vanilla cuttings will grow well enough if merely tied to the trees with their lower ends some inches clear of the ground. Illustrative of the extreme vitality of plants under adverse conditions, it may be mentioned that in neglected plantations, where the vines have been allowed to climb well up into the branches of good-sized trees, and then been broken in attempting to get them down, the broken portions, sometimes partly swinging free, have remained green and capable of growth for upwards of a year, sending down long aerial roots 15 or 20 feet in length, and in some cases where these have escaped injury the broken plant may reestablish connection with the soil and start to grow again. If planted clear of the ground and merely tied to the supporting tree, it is advisable to tie two or three large leaves round each vine for the distance of 3 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.