Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-03
MAKING BOGUS BANANAS.
An Industry that is the Triumph of
the Eakir's Art.

| the kakir's Art.
/ sit would astonish you," said a man
about town to a Philadelphia North
American reporter, as the two paused for
few moments on a settee in one Of the
! public squares, lit would astonish you TO
know what an amount OF sham there is in
the world"
u suppose so" was the rather inditfer
eht reply OF the reporter, as be made men
tal comment on the fact that he had seen
all the shams ne wanted to already.
es,' pursued the other, VINO seemed
very much interested in his subject.
NOW, most folks think that 1t is a terri
Die thing that what is sold for butter is
not always the product OF cows milk,
cream and chnrns, and that candy, coffee,
Tea and the like are doctored and adul-
terated; but bless their poor, innocent
souls. that is nothing compared to what
Is getting to be done nowadays. Why
1t Is an actual fact that up toward
Germantown there is factory
which turns out bogus peanuts and ba-
nanas, as well as two or three other
things, and it is impossible to say what
they Will make next. There's been several
attempts at manufacturing oranges and
lemons, but they haven't exactly hit 1t
yet. May be they won't, but its my opin-
ION that they will"
The reporters interest had increased.
peanuts and bananas" he said. GLOW
In the name OF common sense do they go
to work TO make them?"
THAT'S secret that's kept pretty we'll
guarded" was the reply; "but | went
there one day to see friend, and | saw
some OF the general workings OF the affair.
gu see, IN the first place. there is a kind
OF pulp prepared. Flour is one of the
ingredients, L was told, and po-
u Il ga 50 OF
nour around, but there was quite pile OF
not very saVory looking potatoes, and then
tnere was very suggestive heap OF clay
twice as big as the pile OF potatoes.
Ierhaps that is only used in preparing
the peanut shells, but | saw
man dumping half barrel of ii into a
tub from which | was a short time after
ward given a taste OF banana pulp. 1t
was then in a rather thin state. but they
told me that ii dried out to the proper con-
slstency after the skins were filed with
1t. Now, these skins are of somewhat Pc
cullar coior-a little grayer. perhaps, than
the genuine article, but very bright and
pretty looking wnen they are finished.
The last touch is put on by means
OF dipping into clear liquid that resem-
bles varnlsh, but smells very much
like banana. The peanuts are made from
the same pulp, except that it is favored
differently and made much drier and
harder. Then they are dipped to put the
skins on, then dried: the shells built
around them by rolling in a trough, and
drying in the sun finished them. You
can't tell the difference in taste or appear
ance from the genuine article. The banana
SKINS, L was told, are made of paper
pulp, with admiXture of certain
articles which give it consistency very
much like the genuine article. And then
the dipping that | told you about. after
they have been filled, finishes them with
the exception of putting them on the
stems, which is done in very neat way.
The only trouble about them is that they
harden when they grow Old but as they
keep much longer than real bananas,
there's but little danger Of their being
found out in that way. On, it's great
business, l tell YOU