The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-05-25
Raising Bananas in Florida.


the United States Is that of Col. Whitnef
near Silver lake, two hundred miles
south from Jacksonville, and practically
beyond the region of killing fr5sts. A
daily line Of steamers renders 1t easy OF
access from J Jacksonville and at all other
points upon the river. This plantation
covers an area of several acres, and con-
tains over ten thousand plants, most Of
them in bearing, The plants are OF diff
ferent 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 i've inches In diameter. The
banana, as cultivated In this climate,
bears no visible seeds, but it is propa-
gated from slips or cuttings which bear
transplanting well, and grow with great
rapidity. The slips are generally planted
about eight feet apart; If II is the dwarf
species, an acre OF ground will contain
from 800 to TOO plants. They require
deep, rich soil, and considerable moist
ure. 1t has no season, but the fruit
natures generally in from eleven to thir-
teen months from date OF planting and
by properly timing the planting, ripe
fruit may be obtained at all seasons of
the year.
The cuttings once planted, FIRST de-
velop two leaves, tightly rolled together,
which grow to height Of three or four
teet, when the blades begin to unfold one
after another, into great broad leaves,
the stems forming smooth trunk which
grows to the size Of a large apple tree,
composed entirely of these c0ncentric
leaf stems or petals. In about eight or
nine months, according to the warmth
of the season, q deep purple bud peeps
out just at the point Of divergence Of
the upper leaves, and soon pushes itsel1
into full view, its lengthening stem bend
| ing under the weight of a purple bios
som, shaped likes pointed egg.
Soon leaf OF this blossom opens al
the pointed end, and rolls back to the
base, disclosing row Of five or six tiny
bananas, nestled close together, as i
| hiding under the shelter Of this protect
ing leaf. Each miniature fruit has
waxen yellow flower at the END, with
stigma projecting through 1t. OtheI
leaves OF the blossom untold one aftel
another, In the same way, until twenty
or thirty clusters of fruit are developed
all clinglng to one stem, when these
leaves Wither and fall, and the trui
swells and lengthens to maturity, whicl
requires generally about three or fou
months, The great stem ON which tht
fruit grows bends under its weight unit
the long finger-like fruit hangs down II
graceful clusters.
Each plant bears but single bunc.
of fruit, and then withers and dies. bu
while the fruit is maturing there spring
up from the base of the trunk severa
ofYshoots, which take the place Of the OIL
plant when that has been removed, ant
60 on growing to the full size Of tn
parent tree.
The fruit, when grown full size, begin
to show streaks Of yellow upon its dee
green skin, when it should be gathere'
for shipment to market, and 1t is easil,
and quickly ripened after cutting b.
wrapping the bunch IN straw or In
blanket, and keeping 1t in warm place
BY cutting the punches at the right tim
they can be shipped TO New York wit
perfect safety.
Col. Whitner has upon his plantation
to-day thousands Of punches, in o.
stages of development, from the littl
miniature buds to the well mature
fruit six or seven inches long. Many G
, those punches contain 125 bananas
which sell readily to shippers at tw
cents each, from which may be infsrre
the great profits of banana culture.
An acre of ground will readily suppol
I600 plants. Suppose the punches to az
erage rs bananas each, and we have a
annual income of 5000 from a single acre
The cost Of preparing and enriching tb
ground and setting the plants the frs
year, including the cost Of the slips, will
average, say,$1 per plant, leaving prof
Of $500; but they perpetuate themselve
after the first year, and require but ittl
expenditure. Besides, the shoots tina
spring UP from the bulbous root sroc
will supply plants enough to double tn
ground each year; or they may be col
for more than enough to pay for all ex
penses after the first year, thus leavin,
the 5000 net for the second and succeed
ing years.
Humboldt states that an amount
land that will produce 1000 pounds
potatoes will yield 44,0O0 pounds OF bar
anas, and q surface bearing whea
enough to feed one man will yield ba,
: anas enough to feed twenty-five men.
Chaviz. the lieutenant Of the Callfol
MIA bandit chief Vasquex, 10 carryin
, out the threat he made to avenge tho Ia
, ter's death. With band Of mounte
followers he is ravaging certain sout
ern counties, whose inhabitants clamt
! for legislative appropriation a. Q n