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 15 with Vanilla fragrans to obtain seedlings with possibly greater resist- ance to vanilla root rot. In addition to V. pompona which is rela- tively resistant to the root rot, two other species, namely V. phaeantha Reich, f. and V. barbell at a Reich., have been apparently free from attack. The fruits of Vanilla phaeantha (fig. 8) are only 3 to 4 inches in length, subcylindrical, and larger at the apex than at the base. V. barbellata, as shown in figure 9, is distinctly different from the other species mentioned in that it has very small bract-like leaves. This species is more or less a curiosity in the vanilla group. It is relatively weak in vigor, probably as a result of its limited photosynthetic area.
Text Appearing After Image:
Figure 8.—The beans of Vanilla phaeantha Reich, f. are short, subcylindrical, and larger at the apex than at the base. The leaves are less pointed than those of V. fragrans. The flower clusters contain less than 10 flowers. The pod is medium- sized, cylindrical, somewhat spongy, and tapers to either end. ESTABLISHING A YANILLERY Climate.—Vanilla requires a warm, moist, tropical climate with frequent but not excessive rains. A short low-rainfall period of about 6 to 8 weeks seems to be important during the period of ripening of beans and flowering. Vanilla, however, cannot withstand extended periods of dryness or strong winds. Excessive moisture throughout the year resulting in more or less continually moist vines is not desir- able, mainly from the standpoint of diseases. 772974—48 3

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