The Arizona sentinel., 1886-02-13
BANANA CULTURE.

Gazette, which lately appeared over the signature of A. Marquis:
 The first thing is.to enquire into the varieties of the banana plant and theil requisites. Of course, here as else where, numerous varieties are knewn probably over 60, says Mir. Hill, many of which are indigeneneous, and the others brought from various 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 without cultivation in fay orite locations. But it would be for eign to the purpose of the present art icle to enter into any details about varieties, for the reason that the home consumption being naturally limited, the only object of the banana as an agricultural staple and trade, is for exportation, and the varieties fit for this are very limited indeed. So to make it short, only two or three vari- ties 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 it is known to have been brought from South Amer ica. It is a rather dwarfed tree, com pared with other varities, its trunks varying between four and eight or nine feet in height, which renders more easy the gathering of the punches. These attain greater size than almost any other variety here, varying from sixty to ninety pounds weight, and even more, and it's perculiar and agreeable flavor makes it excellent for eating raw, though inferior to many others for cooking purposes. Outside of these advantages, the principal reason pro- bably of its being preferred for expor. tation, is its property of the fruit ad herring firmly to the stock, even when over ripe, whitening or nearly rotting, while other kinds 'tspill" their fruit, which fall off the stem as soon as ma turity sets in, this being of course ar inconvenience for exporting. This China banana is multiplied by sprouts alone, or suckers from the mother plant, also called ratoons; but one kind, the Manila one, can be propa gated by seed, while the indigenous varieties do not even show any rudi ments of seed. But in this paper 1t is understood that I specially refer to our Chinese variety.
 rev P1anUs more than the banana are susceptible of being modified and improved by culture. They readily show their appreciation of good care by the largely increased bulk and i'm. proved flavor of the fruit; and as large punches alone are accepted for expor- tation, it will be clearly seen. how much proper culture or careless neg lect can interfere with the material re- suits and profits.
 As far as soil is concerned, in spite of the idea generally entertained that they thrive only in friable and light soil, but not so sandy as to allow the too rapid escape of water, and that any attempt to grow them on stiff clay lands will prove failure, yet Tn the Hawaiian archipelago, experience shows that they yield to good culture, as much in heavy, compact soils, as in the light ones, though the rich alluvial loans are certainl: the best; sandy soils, wheather of ordinary sand or the well known volcanic black lava sand, are the opes to be avoided. One thing however, IS certain, and that is that bananas will thrive best in damp val. leys, but they will grow in the dryest spots, provided a good supply of irri- gation can be afforded, with this atten- tion nevertheless, that while water may be abundantly used in porous soils, care must be taken, in our heavy soils, not to over irrigate; the soil must be kept moist, but not allowed to form cake and clog up and stife the roots.
 Mir. Hill wrote once, that "the Chi na banana requires better soil and more attention than any other variety, but with suitable soil and proper cul- ture, it is capable of more improve ment, both in delicacy of flavor and largeness of yield" This explains why so many who cultivate this variety for exportation, obtain such poor punches and consequently so little profit. As