The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-11-03
nnnnn. culsurs.

II.
The word Banana generally avakens an idea Of
tropical soil, in which vegetation is so luxuriant
that Il is sufficient TO stick cutting OF any kind
into the ground for it TO grow without any further
rare. also more especially about banana growing,
tb mind il disposed to believe that the word cul-
ture is absolutely obsolete and tnat all tnat Is re-
uuired is 10 make hole in the ground TO receive
the stump and then leave IT to the tender mercies
Of nature II may be so in some absolutely trup
ical countries but in the semi-tropical Sandwich
Islands, where bananas only do fairly well, il is
only by dint of culture, and might say consider
able and intelligent culture, that any real temune-
ratye results can be obtained The cause Of this is
nrobably complex and due partly to cur climate and
soil and partly to the nature OF the variety required
for expectation. This will explain why, having
been asked for information on the banana culture,
/ must be allowed TO enter into more details than
are generally given on this peculiar crop, and
beg here to present my best thanks to the friends
who have kindly allowed me the help OF their prac-
tical knowledge, and specially to Messrs Lycan,
Henson and W. Hill.
The first thing TO enquire into the varieties OF
the banana plant and their requisites. VI course,
here as elsewhere, numerous varieties are known,
probably over sixty, says Mr.. Hill, many of which
are indigenous and the others brought from vari-
ons countries Several do not thrive well, except
in particular spots and consequently are extremely
scarce and but little known while others grow
wild increasing and spreading Eithuut cultivation
in favorite locations. But It-would be foreign TO
to the purpose of the present article to enter into
details about NaTletle6f lle EcdsOu tIhL tue
home consumption being naturally limited, the
only object of the banana as agricultural staple
and trade is for expectation, and the varieties mt
for this are very limited indeed. So, 10 make 1t
short only two three varties are to be found in
the Honolulu market, and out Of these, only one is
used for shipping. This IS called here the Chinese
banana, for what reason is not explained, because
il is known to have been brought from South Amer
lea by General Miller. English Commissioners, who
gave the first plants to Captain Adams at Kalihi-
kai whence they spread all over the Islands, Bpe-
ciav of late years, as the very favorable results
obtained by the first exporters gave sudden and
considerable mpuse to the culture of this variety
1t is rather dwarfed tree, compared with other
varieties, its trunks varying between four and
eight or nine feet in height, which renders more
easy the gathering of the bunches. These attaina
greater size than almost any otl er variety here,
varying from sixty TO ninety pounds weight, and
even more, and its peculiar but agreeable flavor
makes of it excellent fruit for eating raw,
though inferior to many Others for cooking pur-
poses Outside of these advantages, the principal
reason probably Of its being preferred for e1porta-
ton is its property of the fruit adhering firmly TO
the stalk, when over ripe, whitening or nearly
rotting, while the other kinds spilf their fruit,
which fall of the stem soon as maturity sets
in, this being of course an Inconvenience for ex-
porting. This China banana is multiplied by
sprouts alone, or suckers from the mother plant,
also called ratoons; but kind, the Manila one,
can be propsgated by seed, while the Indigenous
varieties do not even show any rudiments of seed
But in this paper, it is understood that specially
refer TO our Chinese variety.
III.
Few plants more than the banana are succepti-
ble of being modified and improved by culture.
They readily show their appreciation of good care
by the largely increased bulk and improved flavor
of the fruit aud large punches alone accepted
for expectation, it will be clearly seen, how much
proper culture careless neglect can interfere
with the material results and profits.
As far as soil is concerned, in spite Of the idea
generally entertained that they thrive only in a
frfahle and boht soil hut M eu sandy as allow
the too rapid escape of water, and that any at
tempt to grow them stiff clay lands will prove a
failure, yet in the Hawaiian archipelago, expert
ence shows that they yield to good culture much
heavy, compact Soils in the light ones, though
the rich alluvIal loans certainly the best; sandy
soils, whether of ordinary sand or of the we'll
known volcanic black lava sand, are the ones to be
avoided. One thing however, is certain and that
but they will grow in the dryest spots, provided
good supply of irrigation can be afforded with
this attention nevertheless, that while water may
be abundantly used in porous soils, care must be
taken, in our heavy soils, not TO rrgate: the
soil must be kept moist but not allowed TO form
cake and clog up and stifie the roots.
".
Mr.. Hill wrote once, that "the China banana
requires better soil and more attention than any
other variety, but with suitable soil and proper
culture, II is capable of more improvement, both
in delcacy of flavor and largeness of yield" This
explains why so many who cultivate this variety
sequently so little profit AS Mr.. Henson says;
MANY banana growers feel perfectly satisfied with
grubbing the surface of the ground IN order to
clear il and kill the weeds, then they dig hole in
the hard ground and set the young plant IN" But
such primitive methods soon bear their punishment:
'Ihe plant grows pretty well for a few months,
but as soon as the young roots, which expand lat
terally the distance of several feet, reach the
hard soil, they are unable to penetrate it, and
in consequence the young plant, short of nourish-
ment, remains stunted, and either does not pro-
duce at all, or is not able 10 produce full sized
bunch"
There is consequently no divergence of opinion
among intelligent growers, that the great secret of
profitable banana raising is the thorough prepar-
alton of the soil, as myself have verified by sad
experience, and see that the same is admitted in
the West Indies, where considerable areas of the
best land devoted TO banana culture for export
alton 10 the eastern coast of America and to Eng
land. Mr. Lycan and Mr. Hill obtain their superior
crops by deep cultivation. Mr.. Lycan has his land
first plowed twice, cross ways, as deep as possible,
then narrowed, and then dug through with mat
tocks, before planting. Mr. Hill only digs his in
furrOws SIX feet apart and from two and a half TO
three feet Deep having the care of putting at the
bottom of the trench the surface soil, and bring
ing to the top the crude stuff of the underground,
which is thus aerated previous to the next culture,
which reverses all the soil again. Mr.. Henson
digs "from fifteen inches TO two feet Deep bury
ing all the rubbish around" but he recommends
to throw the soil up into ridges high as possible,
which must increase the depth of cultivated sol,
and he hnally warns not to be afraid OF digging
too deep, "the first cost may appear heavier but
the yield of fruit will also be so much heavier and
future expense much lighter that no regret will
follow the primitive large outlay"
Bananas are vUy fond of assimilable substances,
and if the soil is not very rich it may be well to
give 1t plenty of manure from the start; human
manure is not considered favorable, unless thor
Oughly decomposed; horse manure is good, but its
effects are exhausted too soon, and consequently
before the fruit is formed; cows manure IS better
suited TO this plant is effects last longer, but
the best of all is pigs dung, which is worth twice
as much cows, and four or five times as much
as horses. The refuse frum the fabrication of taro
into poi is also most excellent
In rich soils, tho first crop may give very good
results without manuring but the following ones
from the ratOons, generally require the additional
stimulant and, at any rate, in this country where
the banana fiber is not utilized, the best thing the
grower can do, is to chop up with an ordinary hay
cutter the stems of the old tree after the bunch is
cut away, and TO put this around the young plants
which afterwards must be carefully moulded up.
One must never hesitate to manure slow plants or
poor spots of ground. A. MARQUES.
ITO be cOHtiRHed.)
A Great Land Colonization Scheme.