Evening star., 1905-08-17
BEN EFICENT BANANA
NOT MERELY A FLAVOR-IN ITS
PRIMROSE TUNIC."
From the London Pail Mall Gazette

q
source Of real nutriment 1t is at once use
full and delicious. 1t not only gratifies the
palate. but supplies material for combus-
tion and the maintenance of animal heat.
while it also builds up the muscles and re-
pairs the worn and threadbare nerves. The
flour made from it in the dried state Is
equal in nutritive value to rice and how
invigorating and sustaining rice Is has been
demonstrated in the recent achievements
of the Japanese. Dried and sprinkled with
sugar. a form in which it has been recently
introduced into this country. the upstart
banana is. weight for weight, las nutritious
the venerable fig.
But it is in the fresh state. clad in its
primrose tunic-the stripping off Of which
Is in itself a fascinating Operation-that the
banana chiefly appeals to us. Its creamy
succulence and delicate odor are inviting.
and its pleasant SapOr is a prelude to good
digestion. Dependent as that sapor is on
an ethereal body which the coal-tar investi
gators have not yet been able to initiate by
any chemical essence, 1t is subtle stimu-
lus to all subsequent alimentary processes.
And thus it is that the banana is an emil
nently digestible food No of op-
preston or drowsinesS follows a meal
of 1t, and meal OF 1t may be bulky
enough.
have seen West Indian negro consume
twenty stalwart bananas at sitting and
seems to be mainly absorbed by the stom-
ach, and this fact, together with the small
amount of waste matter 1t cOntains-95 per
cent OF its substance possessing nutritive
properties-has led number of American
physiCians-Dr. Usery Of st. Louis being
prominent among them-to recommend 1t
food in typhoid fever. Its employment
under such circumstances, 1t is said, in
sures through the stomach an adequate
supply Of bland nourishment without i'm
noSipg strain the attpnna ted and
abraded alimentary canal. In other dis
eases and in certain dyspeptic disorders
banana cure. like the grape cure. may
prove profitable. and 1t seems just possible
that this mild and gentle fruit may become
q powerful auxiliary to our temperance re-
former 1t mixes badly with alcohol in any
form and becomes indlgestibe when taken
with spirits. and 1t Is alleged that the
habitual use of 1t diminishes the drink
craving where 1t exists. This remains to
be tested by experiment but Capt Parsons
of the Port Kingston Of the Direct Impe
rial line assured me that since the men on
his ship-seaInen and stokers-had been al
lowed to partake at discretion of the ba-
nanas which always form a considerable
part of the cargo. the consumption of al
coholic beverages has been greatly reduced.
Perhaps some of the salutary effects of
the banana may be due to the trace of cop
per it contains. A little iron Is essential to
the blood. and little copper may subserve
some useful purpose in the human econ
omy. 1t subserves a highly ornamental
purpose In the case Of some Of the birds.
The brilliant red of the wing feathers OF
the turacos Is due to a coloring matter
containing copper derived from the banana,
or Its twin brother the plantain, upon which
these birds exclusively feed. The banana
cannot be recommended as a cosmetic. The
colOred races who have hitherto been chief
ly addicted to it have no complexion to
speak of. and the scarlet pigment In the
wings Of the turacos being soluble in wa
ter IS apt to be washed out by q shower,
but perhaps by Its wholeSomeness as food
1T may contribute to cutaneous clarity.
The banana Is not what Is called an ac-
quired taste. An appreciation of 1t Is not
reached through slow stages of diminish
ing repulsion. but comes at the moment OF
first Introduction. 1t Is acceptable at all
ages. The infant absorbs II greedily; chill
dren devour 1t with delight. the adult does
not despise II, and the edentulous octogen-
arian blesses its agreeable tenderness. And
fortunately the appreciation Of its merits Is
spreading rapidly. Not SO long ago 1t was
a delicacy in the compete of the rich man.
Today 1t Is to be seen on the huckster's S
barrow in all our large towns, and 1t Is to
be hoped that the supply Of this most
wholesome and delectable food Will increase
rapidly while the price of it dimnishes so
that an ample supply Of II may be brought
within the reach of all.
Thanks to the establishment of direct
line of steamers, bananas are now being
brought from Jamaica in prime condition
bananas. too. Of unsurpassed excellence.
The people of this country, having been ac-
customed to the smaller banana brought
from the Canaries and Madeira were at
first prejudiced against the larger fruit OF
the West Indies But having eaten bananas
both in Madeira and Jamaica. I testify
that those grown in the latter island are,
as regards sweetness flavor and keeping
qualities on par with the finest the for
mer can produce and they are larger
they are cheaper as a food. Nothing can
be more delicious than the Martinique ba-
nana-that is. the banana grown in ia
maica-in its native home, and now by the
care bestowed on it during transit, when
the temperature around 1t Is regulated from
hour to hour. it can be distributed in this
country while at It's best
The Americans have learned the merits
of Jamaica bananas. Before the hurricane
of August, 1903. no fewer than twenty one
boats per week left Jamaica for the United
States laden with bananas, and. notwith-
standing the devastation then wrought. the
export to the United States is now larger
than ever
But Jamaica is capable of meeting all our
requirements we'll those of America.
and 1t ought to encourage us in the use of
her bananas to remember that the develop
ment of her fruit trade will be of great
benefit to this long suffering and much
suffering colony. Brighter days dawn
Ing on that highly saccharine island. and
her prosperity will be fastened and height
ened if the people Of this country will only
do Justice to her bananas.
l have said that as food nothing can be
better than the Martinique banana. but II
other varieties desired she Will not be
slow to furnish them. We have fancy biscuits
as well as bread. and II the Martinique
banana be thought too solid and substantial
for the dessert table there Is the smaller
| Chinese banana. or the pretty little Al
meido. with It's fingers only three inches
long making a dainty and decorative dish.
Experiments being carried by Mr.,
Fanwett at the Hope botanical gardens
with other varieties. one of these days
we may have fruits superior to any which
We now possess.