The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-05
The banana.

Youths Companion.
/ wonder how many readers can namo the
most valuable OF all fruits without pausing TO
consider? ] think ! hear some OF tho an-
sw,rs; "The APPLE "thc peach" "the
Craze" "thc orange" Docs any ono say ''the
banana7"
II 80. his Is the correct answer. for tho
banana. which alone of fruits possesses all the
essentials to tho bustennnce OF human life.
Is worth moro than all the others, and is thus
tho most valuable fruit In the world.
Even with us II already holds It's own when
compared with any fruit, while In some coun-
trics-Africa for instunce--its position IL az
important as tina. OF wheat In tho United
States or rice In China. Over the larger part
OF the Dark Continent tho banana is the
staple article Of native food, and every tropie-
al African village has It's banana holds, aS We
have helds of potatoes or corn.
The banana belongs TO the great musa fam
ily, which, with Its score Of species aud il-
Vulnerable varieties, encreles the world be-
tween the tropics OF Cancer and Capricorn
even extending It's limits few degrees to the
nOr.h aud south Of them.
The plantain, OF which we road 30 much in
all books describing travel In the tropics, is
but larger and coarser variety OF the ba-
mana. while manila hemp comes from another
branch OF the banana family. the great musa
toxtils Of the Philippine Islands.
10 thirty feet with stalk about six inches
IN diameter. IT Is this stalk that yields the
fiber. which In not only twisted into great
manila cables as well as the strongest ropes
nf all sizes. but into a dainty fabric from
which many of the finest India shawls are
woven. II is also made into mating, and the
well known manila paper.
No foliage, not even that OF palms. Ia more
suggestive of tho tropics than that OF the ba-
mana. and wherever n grows ia huge. glossy.
dark green leaves, often six feet or more In
length by two in width, form a distinctive
feature OF the landscape No Northern green
hcuec which assumes TO present tropical foli-
aye is complete without banana plants. and no
mcrc ornamental novelty can be found for
Northern landscape gardens than these same
plants growing from sunken tubs. One OF tho
most decided summer attractions OF the city
OF Porghkeepsie a. a beautiful private drive
way lined by double row OF tall bnnans
troes. some OF which arc always In fruit and
blossom
Although some varieties Of the banana at
tain the size OF small trees, II Is an herba-
ccous plant, and the kinds most generally cni-
tivated for their fruit are the dwarfs, which
grow to a height of but four or Ave feet: The
smallest Of these produce the delicate fg ba-
nanas. unknown TO Northern markets, but NJ
most tho only ones eaten as iruit In countries
whore the banana " grown.
While the little fig banana " always classei
as a fruit, plnntalns. which are the largest OF
the family, are invariably Iied or baked. aud
regarded as yegetables. orulnary pnnanas,
eeptaty prepared In the same way. For cook
Ing or drying they are cut into strips length-
wise. while for serving In their natural state
thcv' are sliced cro3swiac
A number Of delicious desserts may be pre-
parec by cutting ripe bananas into thin sliccs
aai serving with custard, with line juice ana
sugar, with lemon Juice ana dc ,, Cocoon
nut or ia ether ways that Will readily sug.
psrsnss can be dried az easily as apples or
peaches. In this condition they will keep for