The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-08-27
THE PLANTAEN AND BANANA.
NO. I,
From simmonds' Tropical Agriculture

From Simmonds' Tropical Agriculture
Among the splendid, varied, and
profuse vegetation, with which tropi-
cal countries abound in so infinite a
degree, the magnificent, herbaceous
plant, the plantain, usually attracts
particular notice; and together with
the cocoa and other palms, are the
productions of the vegetable king
dom, which adorn the picture Of the
artist when depicting the scenery of
the tropics. The broad leaves over
hang gracefully the succulent huge
stems OF the plant; whilst just at
their bases, huge clusters OF fruit, OF
yellow, red, and other colors, con
trast harmoniously with their shining,
dark green foliage.
The size this splendid plant usu-
ally attains is feet, but l have seen
them reach an elevation OF II feet,
and even Is feet, with diameter of
stalk from / to feet.
The plants Of the Musa tribe,
though they cannot, like the palms,
be called the princes of the vegeta-
bic kingdom, rank first in the series
of indigenous plants, and are with
out exception the grandest Of the
herbaceous vegetables, whether their
gigantic size, the breadth and beauty
of their foliage, the abundance and
quality Of their fruit, or the surpass-
ing grandeur Of their flowers, be con-
sidered. They are devoid of true
stems, but form spurious stem,
often of considerable thickness, from
the leaves as they rise from the root
stocks, being sheathipg at their base.
encircling each other, and enveloping
layer within layer the slender flower
and fruit stalk. They are not con.
fined to the tropics, but approach in
many parts towards the cooler lati-
tudes of either hemisphere. The
plantain may be seen laden with its
enormous masses of wholesome,
pleasant food in the mild climate Of
Madeira; but its yield of fruit is de-
pendent on, and varies with, the tenn
perature of the climate in which it is
grown. In this respect it is strik-
ing instance Of the increasing boun-
teousness OF nature as we recede
from the poles and approach the
Equator, and is manifestation OF the
benefcence of the Creator.
The plautain is universal. 1t is as
| the Penates-the household god OF
the laborer's cottage. 1t grows
everywhere on the mountain sides
and might be cultivated to any ex-
tent. Hitherto its value has been
unknown. It's fruit has been con.
sumed as a substitute for bread, but
for all other purposes it has been val
ueless
The plantain is, to many thousands
of people, what rice is to the Hin
docs rye flour to the Muscovite, and
wheaton bread to the Englishman
it is their main dependence Tin more
senses than one), their staff Of life
grown everywhere in small quantities
throughout the tropics.
Those who have never lived IL
tropical countries are unable to fully
appreciate it's value. Some look ever
with Indifference upon the gigantic
clusters of this fruit, as they are un
loaded from the steamers and sailing
vessels; and yet they deserve specia
attention and admiration, tor they
are to the inhabitants of the torrlC
zone what bread and potatoes are t.
those of the north temperate zone.
The plantain is one OF Tn
most striking illustrations OF troplca
fertility and exuberance. A plan
which, in northern climate, woult
require many years to gain strength
and size, is there the production. Q
ten or twelve months. The native o
the South plants shoot or sucker