The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-28
RED BANANA
NOW HERE
Variety Thrives in the
Islands.
BROUGHT FROM MEXICO
5. M. Oamon's Estate at MoanaIua
Shows Delicious Fruit From
Slips.

The Advertiser advocated few days
ago the growing in these Islands of the
Cuban. or red. banana. and as a result
II has developed that at Moanalua, the
beautiful country place of S. ". Damon
the cultivation OF this variety OF banana
has already been begun. as well as at
the Government nursery.
Eighteen months or more ago Prof
Rochelle. 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 palGtable 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 MacIntyre. superintendent of Mr.
Damon's estate. yesterday. ''and 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 cultivation OF this
variety of banana.
Prof. Koebele sent US nine different
varieties of banana from Mexico a year
ago last December. They were all plant
ed year ago on Washngton's birth
day and have done spiendidly. From some
OF the roots We have obtained several
punches, and O,ners 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 or them next year. The tree seems
strong and will undoubtedly thrive here
and 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-
waii. We expect to send a slip to III. p.
Baldwin's place on Maui shortly and Mr.
Damon's idea is to send slips all over
the Islands to responsible planters who
VIII take an interest in its growth and
see that IL Is spread still further until IL
VIII be found everywhere in the Islands -
Mr. MacIntyre showed the Advertiser
man All over the estate, calling attention
particularly TO many improvements that
nave been recently instituted by him nm
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 a 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
hr MacIntyre said. were probably local
names bestowed upon them by the Next
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 or It's sweetness and delicious fla
vor.
In addition to the imported varieties
tnere were number of large and husky
plants of the common banana which
grows 80 plentifully all about the Islands
On these were huge punches of ripe fruit
ready to be cut from the tree.
Besides bananas Mr. MacIntyre has n
hne-looking orchard OF papaias, fig
bushes by the score, which he is cover
ing with system of wire netting TO
Keep on the all-devouring Japanese bee
tie, alligator pear trees. a field of pine
apples, and almost every fruit known to
the Islands. in quantities
In one OF the many conservatories pro-
tected from the beetle by wire netting
and other schemes there are muskmelon
vines. rare enough now in the Islands
although they were plentiful before the
arrival of the beetle. The little green
melons. worth their weight In silver al
most. have each little platform swung