The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-09-24
THE PLANTAIN AND BANANA.
no. V.
From simmonds' Tropical Agricuitnre.

was exhibited at the Great Exhibition
of 1851, that had been in this country |
for sixteen years. 1t was still in an
eatable state, and had much the taste
of dried figs. The quality of the fibre
is finest before the ripening OF the
fruit. The cost of keeping up a
plantain estate in Demerara would
be about g. per acre; and the pro-
duce of the stem alone for fibre, if
cut over eight months, would be 400
or 1900 good stems every cutting, or
1900 stems in two years. The aver
age quantity Of fibre per stem may be
put at pounds, or 5000 pounds per
annum per acre, at cost OF g. and
add a. for the preparation for market,
the cost would not exceed I'D. per
pound. In this way (by the success
sion of suckers) the production of the
plantain is enormous; and Humboldt's
statement, once thought exaggerated,
that an acre OF good land i'll the trop-
les, covered with the plantain, would
yield as much nutritious food as IA
acres of wheat, is no longer denied or
doubted. ------,
The plantain is noted for the
abundance and excellence of the nu-
tritive food which it yields The
fruit is served up both raw and
stewed slices fried are also consid-
cred delicacy. Plantains are some
times boiled and eaten with salt meat,
and pounded and made into buildings,
and used in various other ways. In
their ripe state these fruits contain
much starchy matter.
A few bananas are occasionally i'm
ported to England, but they are sell
dom received in such perfection as to
form an estimate of their flavor; nor
are they at the best Of times much
appreciated. A considerable trade is,
however, carried on in bananas be-
tween New Y ork and Aspinwall, the
Atlantic seaport of the Panama rail
way. Not a steamer leaves without
taking from 5000 to 5000 punches
and during the year, something like
100000 lunches Tor 500 tonsl of ba-
ranas are exported to New York.
They are grown in plantations or
walks, seven or eight miles from the
town. After the small bush is cut
down, fire is run over the land, and
the suckers are planted irregularly
all through. six or seven feet apart.
The kinds principally cultivated are
the doubloon, the China, and the fig.
The last most resembles the honey
banana OF jamaica The plantain is
not exported, but is only used for
home consumption. The Indians
manufacture kind of spirit from the
plantain. When the fruit is fully
ripe, the Indian gathers it, peels off
the skin and throws the fruit into a
dish. where it remains for some days.
After termenting, he draws off the
liquor and puts it in his homemade
bottle for future use. The liquor, or
as the Indian terms it, rum" is said
to be strong and very intoxicating.
When drunk to excess the effects re-
main for two or three days. :
In Jamaica, the banana seldom
comes to maturity in less than twelve
or fourteen months; but III Aspin-
wall. six or eight months are sufficient.
In Jamaica, when sucker is planted,
it only comes up single and bears but
one bunch of fruit; but in Aspinwall
sucker comes up with several shoots,
and these bear i'll succession one
alter another. The bunch of fruit is
cut with as long stalk as possible,
for the convenience Of carrying, and
it is always cut green before it ever
begins to ripen, or the fruit would
rot before they arrived at New York,
They pay duty OF 10 per cent. IN
America.
PLANTAIN MEAL.
The flour Of the plantain, known IN
many parts Of the West Indies as
corquintay, is highly esteemed, and
extensively used as food for invallds
and children. 1t is decidedly supe-
rior in these respects TO arrowroot, IN
consequence Of its nourishing and
strengthening qualities. But 1t is
scarcely known at all in Europe,
where l believe it would be greatly
priced. 1t is prepared by stripping
off the husk OF the plantain, slicing
the core, and drying it in the sun:
When thoroughly dry it is powdered
and sifted. 1t has fragrant odor,
acquired in drying, somewhat resenlb-
ling fresh hay or tea. 1t is largely
employed as the food OF infants and
inyalids. AS food for children and
convalescants # wonld. probably, be