If of sufficient length, the free end of the planted vine is hung through a fork of the supporting tree, but it is also advisable to tie it in two or three places to the tree to hinder swinging and chafing. The material used for these ties here is a fiber called _vacoa_[1] which rots in about a year, by which time the plants should have tendril-like roots enough to steady themselves. When once properly planted, the cuttings will need little or no attention for some months, but when the growth becomes vigorous the shoots must be looked after. Such of them as have grown clear of their supports are hitched up and, if long enough, hung through one of the forks. An occasional tie here may also be necessary, but in general a leaf or two of the growing part can be hooked on to some other fixed part of the vine, and in a few days, unless blown loose, the tendrils will have fastened to the leaf, and thus support the plant. Shoots must not be allowed to climb very high among branches of the supporting tree, especially if there be many and close together, or there will be breakages in getting them down. For this purpose, when they get beyond hand reach, a forked stick 6 or 7 feet long is useful. The fork is worked between the tree and climbing vine, and its tendrils in succession are broken by pushing and twisting the stick when they are within the fork. The last two or three tendrils are easily broken or leave the tree without breaking, and care should be taken when the vine is nearly clear to catch the stem of it high up, within the stick’s fork; it can then be lowered gently without fear of breaking. Some judgment is necessary in selecting the fork of the tree through which each shoot is to hang, a fork whose height fits in with a natural bend of the vine, if it has one, being chosen; otherwise one whose height takes the vine between joints is best, since if bent at a joint the vine is apt to snap, especially so when in vigorous growth, being then full of sap and brittle. In good growing weather--i. e., warm, still, and moist--healthy, well-nourished vanilla vines grow very rapidly, an inch per day being no uncommon rate. FOOTNOTES: [1] Obtained from a species of screw pine, _Pandanus utilis_. PREPARING THE VINES FOR CROPPING.