The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1890-12-13
MOST LUSCIOUS LAYOUT.
ABOUT FRUIT IN THE SAND
wicH ISLANDS.
How the Bunehss of bananas Orow- Cecosnuts
very Common iasspoIss are Prolific
Tamariads, Mangoss and Lemons
IN Abuniance-?esc.ss, etc.

A friend who returned recently from
two years residence In the above
named well-known islands tells the
Rural Home interesting facts about
fruit production there. Among tho
fruits that attract most notice aud are
held in the highest esteem Is the ban
ana.
While single stalk OF the banana
bears but one crop yet other shoots arc
all the time coming on so that in this
mild and frostless land bananas are
found in every stage OF ripeness during
each month In the year. While there
are several varieties only two or tn rec
are cultivated for home use. Most OF
the bananas are grown by the Chinese
upon these islands for they excel as
gardeners and fruit producers. The
Chinese asserted that thoy planted as
many as three thousand upon a single
acre OF land but this seems IN incredi-
BILE number when we know that less
than one thousand grape vines are
produced upon an acre. They are
however planted close together 80 that
the assertion Is not improbable. The
lunches sell in the interior from ten to
twenty-five cents each but in the larger
towns they command about double this
| price. The amount OF fruit that can
be produced upon single acre is enor-
nous for they are exceedingly prolific
! Humboldt estimated that the same
space Of ground that would produce
one thousand pounds OF potatoes would
raise A. 900 pounds OF bananas. They
are not usually planted at higher
altitude than /, 500 feet and where pos
sible they are placed in the sheltered
ravines, gulches and canyons to avoid
the strong winds that often blow.
Cocoanuts are very common but are
grown only near the sea shore. Form
erly they were fed to the hogs but
now so many are shipped that the
fruit is in demand. When the meat is
first formed inside of the shell there
is only thin layer scarcely thicker
than knife blade. AS soon as this
hardens trifle, an additional layer is
added and tbs meat increases in this
manner till 1t is about half an inch in
thickness. The milk is much sweeter
and finer than when the nuts have
been long plucked from the tree as we
find them. The trees are not allowed
to be cut down but are kept for fruit
production. All parts OF the tree are
used by the islanders and among some
of these various uses the leaves are
torches; the cluster OF unexpanded
leaves is made into pickles and pre-
serves. The sap is made into a drink,
the nut is used for food. the oil for
amounting the body and for a variety
OF other purposes. Out OF the shell
many articles such as drinking cups,
bottles, spoons and knife handles are
made The fibre which envelops the
she'll within the outer husk is made
into mattresses. cushions. ropes, cables,
cordage, nets and mats.
Pine Apples are very prolific, two
varieties are grown, these are known
as the sugar pine apple and the COM
mon one.
The tamarind grows to be a large
and handsome tree but this fruit is
never eaten fresh. 1t must be pre-
served to make it palatable. In shape
the tree resembles the fig, being large
and spreading, but it is a dirty tree
around the houses owing to the falling
OF its leaves and fruit.
A favorite fruit with all natives is
the mango. The tree is about the size
of u pear tree, the fruit ripens in the
fall and hangs upon the tree for
several months, and as the mango
ripens its fruit at different periods the
natives can obtain it during at least
half OF the year. The fruit is about
the size OF large pear and contains
long fiat kernel. The mango is very
sweet and luscious but owing to its
extreme juciness and the fact that its
| juice will stain like an indelible dye it
must be eaten with arms barred and
care used that the Juice does not come
in contact with the clothing
Lines and lemons though common
are not plentiful, and not enough
are grown to meet the home demand.
Lines sell In the larger towns Mt
twenty-five cents dozen and are i'm
ported from San Francisco In large
quantities. The same holds true OF
the lemon, for though this tree grows
readily, not enough have been planted
to meet the home demand for this
| fruit
All OF the peaches. plums. cherries.
| apricots and the common deciduous
fruits OF the temperate zone. IL used
ut all. are brought from San Fran
cisco. Ice is used to keep them fresh
and preserve them from the heat
while on the voyage.