The Columbus journal., 1884-12-17
Coffee and Bananas.

A gentleman who lived for many
years i'll Mexico has explained to re-
porter why bananas are so abundant on
our streets, and, indeed, all over the
country, in the following way: In GER
tain parts of Mexico and Central
America, particularly on the lowlands,
a large amount of coffee is now being
planted. The young coffee tree is quite
tender and without protection in the
way of shade would certainly be burned
out by the fierce sun of the Southern
country before it had reached its bear
ing season about three or four years
after planting. Therefore when the
young coffee tree is set out as it is in
regular rows. alternate rows of bananas
are set out at the same time. The
coffee plants are sprOuted and set out
on the plantation much the same as our
cabbage or tomato plants. The banana
is particularly luxuriant plant in
moist, low soil and grows with the
utmost rapidity. 1t at once becomes q
guardian angel to the tender coffee tree.
shielding it with its Outspread verdant
wings from the tropic sun, and so con-
tinues until the precious berry plant is
able to fight its own way through life.
The banana throws out shoots and
spreads almost as rapidly as a straw
berry plant. 1t bears fruit all the year
round, commencing with the first
season, and thereafter at any time one
may see this prolific bearer in all stages
of advancement toward fruitiOn. One
stalk will be just peeping from
the ground, when another is
foot high; another is half grown;
another is in full bloom; another
bears green fruit and another bears
ripe fruit. The progress of these
shoots keeps on without interruption at
all seasons of the year, so that one may
procure continuous food from one plant
at all times. The coffee planter, when
the bunch of bananas has attained its
full size but is still green. cuts off this
one particular stalk, which ends its in
dividual career. 1t is n mistake to sup
pose that bananas even in the tropics
can be allowed to ripen on the plant for
food purposes. They become SO rich,
being thirty-three per cent. sugar OF
saccSarine matter, that they are almost
like Jelly and are unfit for food. This
explains why the fruit are all green
when they arrive in this market, and
not, as is generally supposed, because
they would spoil in transit if plucked
when ripened. The gentleman referred
to says: "During the summer time l
eat nothing else for my monday meal
but this luscious fruit. 1t is meat, veg
etables, bread apd drink to me. 1t il
a food designed by an all-wise Provi-
dence for the inhabitants of the hot |
climates to live on and still retain their
health"
When the coffee plant reaches ma
turity, the banana trees having fulfilled
their mission are cut down for two sue
cessive seasons, which exterminaten
them. The steady and remarkable in
crease in coffee growing owing to the
enormous demands of all countries, has
with it the increased banana
planting. aud as a consequence has
flooded the civilized world with this low.
priced and delicious fruit which FORM
erly was high-priced luxury, the
planter naturally endeavoring 10 take
advantage of the two crops. Some iden
Of the number of banana trees on .
large plantation may be obtained from
the remark of the planter: II have 50
many banana trees on my place that il
vou gave me me five cents apiece for
hem 1 would throw in all the rest of
nv plantation, mills, coffee fields
and everything had on it."
Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph.
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