Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-16
Although Strictly a Tropical Plant 1t May
be Grown in Sacramento.
By Samuel II. Gerrish.

Besides all the conditions of the climatal
circumstances it is necessary also to know what
is the vitality of the plant itself; what its
power of distribution over the earth, and the
strength of its resistance to the destructive
agents which surround It'll ecus.
The banana has been experimental with
in the southern and central part of the
State, and although the result has not been
satisfactory for general cultivation, still it
has been demonstrated that as an orna-
mental plant it lisa success. Occasionally a
bunch of twenty or thirty bananas have
been raised so as to be eatable Il is not
imposs ible that in time the plant by sue
cessive suckering, may become hardy
enough to bear regular crops-it would not
be more a stonishing than the fact of regu-
lar crops of oranges that are now raised in
this part OF the State. Fifteen years ex-
detrimental work with the banana en-
| courages the hope that time may produce
harder variety, or acclimate an offspring
of the varieties now cultivated. | have had
the Daca, Rosacae, Cavendishii, Ell Babo
| and Martinique. The Daca and Cayen-
dishii did not succeed. The other varieties
are growing successfully in my garden.
They are as beautiful, large and their
growth as healthy during the warm season.
Martinique has produced bunch of
bananas now ripening, is encouraging for
| future experiments.
The result Of years of cultivating this
noble plant, is that they must have an
abundance of water supplied without al
| lowing them to have their growth checked
for want of it. Any kind OF manure, fresh
or old, applied mixed with ashes leaves or
vegetables, piled around the stalks. all will
| be soon absorbed by the rayenous eater,
which unfolds its gigantic leaves-the most
beautiful plant in the tropics. Sink water,
or any Stops from the house, can be turned
| upon the soil near to it, and all will be
soon absorbed. l let hill of three Mar
Unique bananas have all the sink draining
during the summer, and they sent up ten
more suckers some of which grew ten feet
during the season.
As the rainy ,ason and frosts approach
pile all the old leaves from the trees. also
straw and small twigs around the bulbs on
| the ground, to keep the plants warm.
Throw wood ashes over it, which is an ex-
cellent non conductor of heat. This will
also serve to fertilize the plant have had
the tender, beautiful Rosacae banana for
| fifteen years. The first season it was
killed to the ground, and each succeeding
| year it did better and now will stand n
| frost of 25o-7o below freezing-with no
damage except to its leaves. Last Febru-
airy it fruited, but the wind blew over the
stalk containing the bunch, and that
| killed the fruit. 1t now grows luxuriantlv.
| With the treatment mentioned above.
any one can raise this most beautiful of or
namental plants which give so tropical an
| air to the locality where grown. A bulb
grows comparatively slow the first season,
but with manure and water the second sea-
son it grows at rapid rate, and is equalled
| by nothing but corn or bamboo. The best
situation / have found is on the west side
| of house or tree. The object is TO shield it
T, from the morning sun in winter, so as to
allow it to warm more slowly when frosty
weather is prevailing. The sun thawing
too rapidly is more apt to injure them.
| have never seen weather that would kid
the bulbs of these three mentioned varie
ties. l am now cultivating solely for the
| pleasure of their grand tropical appearance.