The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-07-31
THE RED BANANA A SUCCESS.
S. N. Damon's Estate at MoanaIua
Shows Delicious Fruit From
Slips.

The Advertiser advocated u few day,
ago the growing in these Islands of the
Cuban, or red, banana, and as result
liz has developed that at Moanalua, the
beautiful country place of S. M. Damon
the cultivation of this variety OF banana
has already been begun, as well as a
the Government nursery.
Eighteen months or more ago Prof
| Koebele, the Government naturalist
brought from Mexico several slips OF the
red banana, advising that their cultiva-
ton be begun at once, as they were a
very palatable fruit and would thrive In
these Islands. The slips were divided be-
tween the Government nursery and Mr..
Damon's place at Moanalua, and at both
places they are doing well and are al
ready large enough to bear.
| MIR. Damon called my attention to the
Advertiser editorial the other day." said
Donald Mac1ntyre, superintendent of Mr..
Damon's estate, yesterday, land he said
that he intended to take a bunch of the
red bananas to your editorial rooms to
show what has been done here at Mo-
analua towards sc cultivation of this
variety of banana.
Prof. Koebele sent us nine different
varieties of banana from Mexico year
ago last December. They were all plant
ed year ago on Washingtons BIRTH
day and have done splendidly. From some
of the roots we have obtained several
punches, and u,hers are coming rapidly.
We cut one large bunch from the red
banana tree two weeks ago. The slips
are growing up rapidly in place of the
dead stalk and We ought to have a good
crop of them next year. The tree seems
strong and will undoubtedly thrive here,
and l see no reason why in a few years
the crop should not be large all over the
Islands.
AT present our tree and one at the
Government nursery are the only ones of
the red variety, the Largo as IL Is called
in Mexico, that are to be found In Ha-
wall We expect to send a slip to III. =.
Baldwin's place on Maui shortly and Mr..
Damon's idea is to send slips all over
the Islands to responsible planters who
will take an interest in it's growth and
see that 1t Is spread still further until 1t
will be found everywhere in the Islands"
Mr.. MacIntyre showed the Advertiser
man all over the estate, calling attention
particularly to many improvements that
have been recently Instituted by him I'M
der Mr.. Damon's instructions. The ba-
mana orchard was OF particular interest
Besides the red banana tree-the Largo
there are eight large banana plants, all
OF which were sent from Mexico by Prof.
Koebele, and all OF which are bearing
They stand about fifteen feet high and
bear large banana, long and tapering
to decided point at either end and very
sweet to the taste. The different varie-
ties are known as the Mako. the Balsa,
the Manzana, the Manila, the Morado,
the Thuna and the Gunia, besides the
Largo, or red, banana. These names,
MIR. MacIntyre said, were probably local
names bestowed upon them by the Mexi-
cans. There was also the Honey bana-
ma" tiny little fellow, much similar TO
the Chinese variety which is exported.
ana commands very high price on ac-
count OF its sweetness and delicious fla
vor.
In addition to the imported varieties
there were number of large and husky |
plants OF the common banana which |
grows so plentifully all about the Islands. |
On these were huge punches or ripe fruit |
ready TO be cut from the tree.
Besides bananas Mr.. AaeIntyre has a