Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-09
Banana Culture in Texas,

It is possible to successfully cultivate
the banana in all parts of Texas, not
excepting even the extreme northern
portions of the state. This statement
may strike some of our readers as a
rather extraordinary one, to say the least
of it., but it is strictly true, nevertheless.
OF course an explanation is expected and
we shall now proceed to make it by first
referring to the successful culture of an
other species of fruit, far above the line
of its natural range.
The fig in none of Its varieties is con-
sidered hardy above about the line of So
deg. north latitude, and yet the fig is to-
day quite extensively cultivated as far
up as Iowa. There is In the city of
Washington, d. c., nursery that
makes speciality of the fig, sending its
stock to points east and west far above
that latitude. AS might be supposed
this nursery is forced to protect Its stock
through winter, but its excellent trade
enables it to do that thing ana make fiue
profits. And now for how the fig is Gull
tivated above its natural range:
The trees are set on a hillslde-the
sleeper the better. On the approach of
freezing weather In the fall the roots on
lO"SL siue VI lT66 uE6 cut OH ana
the tree is topped over towards the hill
until 1t lies fiat on the ground, the roots
on the upper side of the tree having been
left undisturbed. The limbs of the tree
that stand up when the tree is laid in
this position, and cannot be bent down
to the surface. are cut off. The tree is
then covered with. straw or other litter,
aud also with earth. If necessary, to a
n
freezes. In the spring, when danger
of frost is over, the tree is uncovered
and righted back to its natural position.
1t promptly puts out and bears a fine
crop of fruit. The same routine goes on
each year.
Some years ago we came to the con-
clusion that the same plan would work
successfully with the banana above Its
natural range, and we put it to the test.
1t proved an entire success, so we gave
our discovery to the public through the
press, and it took so well that bananas
are to-day cultivated on this plan at va
rious points in the states of Mississippi,
Alabama and Georgia.
The banana delights in a steep gully
such as are common enough in most sec
tons of Texas. A good way to prepare
the gully for it is to throw low obstruc-
tons across here and there to catch the
matter washed down by rains, thus
securing an aluvial deposit two or three
feet in depth. Set the plants along in
this, near one side of the gully, and they
will grow off with amazing luxuriance.
When the season of frost approaches
trim off the leaves, cut the roots on the
side away from the bank, lop the stalk
over against the bank, and cover suf1i-
GENTLY to protect against the effects of
frost. In the spring uncover and right
back to original position and prop if
necessary. The prop will not be long |
needed, as new roots will soon be sent |
out from the cut side to hold the plants |
all right. The plants viii grow off as |
well as they would have done in the |
tropics, and will seldom fail of bearing |
and maturing heavy crop of fruit
No soil could suit the banana better
than the limey soils of Texas. Being a
plant of large bulb it can stand almost as
much drouth as a cactus. The only
thing against 1t here is the winter cli-
mate, and that, as you see, can be set
all right by taking little pains to pro-
tect the plants on the plan suggested As
fine banana plants as we ever saw in
Cuba are now growing on the grounds Of
SUNNI VI 'ue citiZeus VI rort worth, but
in order to have them the citizens take
up and pit the bulbs through winter, re-
turning them to the grounds in spring.
The plan proposed by US makes the mat
Ter of protection much easier, and since
more than half the roots are left in the
ground undisturbed, gives the plant
much earlier start.
we have suggested planting in gullies
Tor the reason that better situations NAV
be there secured. yet any hillside land
will answer reasonably well, the hillside
being important, as Il does away with
he necessity of so much strainiug the
plants to get them to the surface as
would have to occur where the plants
TODD on level lands.
We know from extended experience
hat there is no kind of mistake about
his thing. and therefore we are earnest