New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-31
CIVILIZATION OF THE BANANA,

THE ONCE pEsPIsBp FRUIT NOW SOURCE or
1uoomE-How THE TREE is FosTERED.
The banana and the plsptaip have always formeo
one OF the staple foods of tropical countries. I'M
proved communication and an everinoreasing oemahu
for the banana here gave, soHo fourteen years ago.
great Impetus 10 ifs cultivation. Tho sugar piantcr
OF the West indies was gradually but surely being
ruined by beet and bounty-fed sugars. Tho banana
was with him a tree to DO hated. In jamaica every
negro had a few planted in the small clearing round
his Init. and bunch Of the fruit would feed him and
his family for week. When so provided he saw
no need 10 20 out TO work In the cane fields Tho
planter had foreseen this and with the Abolition Oh
slavery disappears the banana, plantan and cocoa
nut trees. Al first the banana-wallH were made any
where on tho estate; generally on abandoned cane
fields which cost less to clean, but experience has
taught the planter that certain sites suit the tree
best
The best place for banapSwalk Is valley or Hill
side hsvInR western prospect. The large leaves
attract the dew, and In the early mornings patch OK
bananas looks II 1t were encrusted with diamonds
These drops Of dew soon evaporated by the morn
Ing SUM- but Il tho trees shaded the plant abSOrbs
most Of the moisture.
The ground for tho intended patch is thoroughly
cleaned and subbed." Then suckers must DO
obtained as the banana Is only known to seed in one
small spot on the earth, the Andaman Islands These
sachsrss sprout from the root OF the hanaDa-tree
when Il Is one year old They are torn from the
parent reo and may be shipped LONG distances, being
hardy aud longlved. About 400 or 500 trees arc
planted to tia acre. and the chief care is to SEQ
that the weeds, AMI especially the creeping ones, are
kept down: otherwise they will soon choke the
young plant.
The banana tree bears fruit in It's first year The
bunch hangs down on a stem which springs from the
tree Just under It's trond Of leaves This stem eA-
tends beyond the fruit ending in purple cone, unoer
which Is . small, Insignificant bunch OF flowers
Tho early morning visit to banana walk expose
ons 20 the equivalent of q thorough ran-dronchng.
As each bunch becomes full but stln green, tho tree
Is chopped down with or two blows from
Gmachetss great care being taken that the fruit is
not bruised The bunch IS then carried on the heel
Of negro the dray that carries II down 70 the port
Tin punches packed between layers OF uashi
aud on being unoadod from tho drays are sorted into
bunahss" Of thoso numbers. hands Of bananas Is
one OF tho small portions that 20 TO make up bunch
bananas are paid for with ready money on the
beach, according TO the number OF hands, ana the
time 81 year. In January, February and Mareh tley
cost from II TO IS cents bunch; In April May ana
Juno nom 40 70 72 cents. In a good year bunch
Of costs cents 10 land a. tho beach. al OK
pcnEes included. Tho planter has hle risks, now.
ever. A hurricane viii In an hour destroy every
tree and for that year tho cultivation IL. OF course
thcfts by Tho negroes form large item. Landed IN
HgwYork tho punches bring from so cents 20 ", 50
corng 10 the time of year and tho size or tho bnon
As soon as tho banana begins u give goOd shadc
the spaces between tho tFeca aa planted Win SoeoA
tree that must have shelter from the sun Almond
trees and tho fambuyant also planted 70 give the
shade for tho when the banBnas have ceased 10
bear pfvntsblyi that Is. In three or four years