Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-16
RAISING BANANAS.

The most perfect banana plantation in the
United States is that of Colonel Whitney, near
Silver Lake, over 200 miles south from Jack
sonville, and practically beyond the region Of
killing frosts. A daily line of steamers renders
it easy of access from Jacksonville, and at all
points upon the river This plantation covers
an area of several acres, and contains over TO-.
900 plants, most of them 10 bearing. The
plants are of different varieties. Some of them
are huge trees twenty feet high, with trunk
from six to eight inches in diameter, while
others, and probably the largest number, are
of the celebrated dwarf species standing from
six to eight feet high, with trunk from four
to FIVE inches in diameter. The banana, as
cultivated in this climate, bears no visible seed,
but it is propagated from slips or cuttings
which bear transplanting we'll, and grow With
great rapdity. These slips are generally
llaDted about eight feet apart; if it is the
dwarf species, an acre OF ground will contain
from 600 to 700 plants They require deep,
rich soil, and considerable moisture. 1t has
DO season, but the fruit natures generally in
from eleven to thirteen months from the date
Of planting, and by properly timing the plant
ing ripe fruit may be obtained at all seasons of
the year. The cuttings once planted first de-
yelop two leaves tightly yoked together, which
grow to height OF three or four feet, when
the blades begin to unfold one after another
into great broad leaves, the stems forming a
smooth trunk, which grows to the size Of
large apple tree, composed entirely of these
concentric eaf-stems or petals. 10 about eight
or nine months, according to the warmth of
$he season, deep purple bud peeps out
just at the point Of divergence of the upper
leaves, and soon pushes itself into full view,
Its lenghteDing stem bending under the
oh ofo ,ho
pointed egg.
Soon leaf of this blossom opens at the
pointed end, and rolls back to the base, dis
closing row OF FIVE or six tiny bananas,
nestled close together, as if hiding under shelter
Of its protecting leaf. Each miniature fruit
has q waxen yellow flower at the end, with
stigma projecting through it. Other leaves
of the blossom unfold one after another, in
the same way until twenty or thirty clusters
of fruit are developed, all cngiDg to one stem,
when these leaves wther and fall, and the
fruit swells and lengthens to maturity, which
requires generally about three or four months.
The great stem ou which the fruit grows bends
under its weight until the long inger-like fruit
hangs down in graceful clusters.
Each plant bears but single bunch of fruit
and then withers aud dies, but while the fruit
is maturing there springs up from the base of
the trunk several offShoots, which take the
place of the old plant when it has been remov-
cd, and 20 on growing to the full size of the
parent tree.
The fruit. when grown full size, begins to
show breaks OF yellow upon its depe green skin,
when it should be gathered for shipment to
market, as it is easily and quickly ripened after
euttlog by wrapping the bunch in straw or in a
blanket aud keeping it in warm place. By cut
IN "a hp choc tho ,nb thax, ho
shpped to New York with perfect safety.
Colonel Whitney has upon his plantation to-
day thousands of punches, in all stages of de-
yelopment, from the little miniature buds to
the we'll matured fruit six or seven inches long.
Many OF those punches contain l25 bananas,
which sell readily to shippers at two cents each
from which may be inferred the great profits of
banana culture.
An acre of ground will readily support 600
plants. Suppose the punches to average sew
enty-fve bananas each, and we have an annual
income of 5000 from single acre. The cost
OF preparing and enriching the ground and set
ting the plants the first year, Including the cost
of the slips. will average 81 per plant, leaving
profit Of $500; but they perpetuate themsel-
Yes after the first year land require but little ex-
pendlture Besides, the shoots that spring up
from the Dubious root stock will supply plants
enough to double the ground each year, or they
may be sold for more than enough to pay for
a expenses after the first year, thus leaving
the $500 tor the second and succeeding years.
Humboldt states that the amount of land
that will produce 1000 pounds Of potatoes will
yield $4,000 pounds of bananas, and surface
bearing wheat enough to feed one man will
yield bananas enough to feed twenty FIVE men.
atlantic Herald.