The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1892-10-22
BANANA MEAL
Said by Scientists to Be More Nu-
tritious Than Wheat.
"A Product That Is Increasing In De-
mand as Superior Food
Article = Its Vari-
Gus Uses.

merchants avail themselves of the CD
portunity to make money by dealing in
that particular article. The banana
has hitherto been an exception to this
rule
Scientists long ago-aa long as the
days of Humboldt's explorations
pointed out that the earth would pro-
duce bananas faster than any other
\ vegetable, and that bananas were
richer in food constituents than any
other product Of the earth. Yet the
New York Advertiser says that
bananas, up to the present time, have
formed no considerable part of the
worlds food supply. 1t is true that
they are eaten as fruit, and that the de-
mand for them is increasing year b Y
year, so that trade of some dimen-
sions has come into being in carrying
this fruit to market. Only small frac-
ton OF the banana crop of the world,
however, has been utilized
Now this condition of things is to be
speedily changed. The governments. of
the United States, England and Ger
many have become interested in the re-
suits of a series of experiments made
by Francis J. Gels of New York, a we'll
known experimental chemist and form
erly q member of the produce exchange.
As a result of the correspondence be-
tween Mr.. Gels and the representatives
of these three governments, important
official action has been recently taken
toward the utilization of the banana
as a staple food product that will I'M
questionably be formidable COMPETE
tor in the market with corn and wheat
The government officials in the
islands of Jamaica the other day for
warded to Mr.. Gels a sample barrel of
banana meal, which he at once for
warded to Edwin Willis, assistant
secretary of the department of agricul-
ture at Washington. And the govern
ment of Germany is preparing to manu-
facture, according to the formula sub
mitted by Mr.. Gels a species of sausage
to be made of dried bananas and to be
eaten with milk.
The barrel of meal which is now at
the department of agriculture is to be
distributed soon in small packages as
samples to such planters as desire to
manufacture the meal, and a circular
letter from the government will also be
sent out, giving such information as is
available in regard to the process. This
action has resulted from Mr. Gels per-
sistent endeavors, and from the truly
remarkable transfer which he recently
made.
He donated as a free gift to the peo-
pie OF the United States through the
government officials at Washington an
entire series of patents which have been
granted to him and which cover the en-
tire field of operations in cultlvating
the banana and in producing the meal.
This was not done through motives of |
philanthropy, he is careful to explain, |
but for the reason that he is DESTROYS of |
entering the field as buyer of the
meal rather than as producer of it,
and it is to his interest to get an enor-
NOUS supply into the market as quickly |
and cheaply as he can
''There is not at present" he Says, ga
single ton of this meal in the world,
and l want it by the million pounds"
No one is likely to quarrel with the
motive of such an act when it is remem-
bered that banana meal is well known
to be as nearly perfect food as can be
produced. 1t is not a new product.
Aztecs made it. Hitherto, however, it
has been considered impossible to make
it in a way to keep. As a perishable
product it was of little value; but it is
now demonstrated that it can be
made so as to rank with wheat flour
or corn meal, and at much smaller
cost than either As it is far superior
to either in food value, the Importance
of the discovery is hardly to be esti-
mated. No limit can be fixed to the
crops that may be raised, and us the ,
manufacture of the meal is simple and
inexpensive, the price of bread must be
considerably reduced.
Another use, besides the making of t
bread, to which the meal may be APP 7
piled, is the brewing of beer, and it is
in this connection that Mr.. Gels pro- 7
poses to become so large a buyer. Still {
other uses for the banana have been i
Cloth of superlative tex t
ture is to be made of the fiber Of the t
peel; indelible ink and vinegar are to il
be produced from the juices of the same t
peel and processes have been perfected II
for the canning of the ripe fruit with n
milk. b
These facts, together with the en- i
enlargement given by the governments o
has attracted the attention
Of some of the largest capitalists of the Il
and preparations are now in p
for the establishment of works d
that will call for the Investment of mil a
lions of dollars. There seems to be no d
1oubt that the next three months will t,
sse the begging of new industries that Il
will add to the national wealth most n
b
Stout Commander.
The newly appointed commander of Il