The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1908-09-17
Tee BANANA IS PLENTIFUL.
aIexicn, Central America and nest Il.
dia sSianIS Full Of ii:an.
BaviNk ORCHARD 4 BEAUTIFUL SIIhT.
(Selsctod.)


All through the lowlands of Mexi-
co and throughout Central America
and the West India Islands the ba-
mana is as common as the apple in
new England. Nearly every back.
yard has its banana tree, if not a
small orchard, and almost every phc-
tograph brought back by travellers,
is sure to show at least ore OF these
picturesque trees. 1t grows so cx-
uberantly and is used in 50 many
ways that it may be ciassed as
weed, a vegetable, and a fruit. IT.
deed, if care were not taken to cut
out the young shoots each tree would
soon become a thick impenetrable
jungle.
A banana orchard is beautiful
sight, with its clusters Of green or
yellow fruit ard sprays of bloom,
which may all be found on what is
practically the same tree. The bs-
mana farmer watches his trees very
c,refuliy and permits three shoots
to grow out from the root Of each
tree which he plants. He is careful
to sec that the interval OF time in
their growth is such that when the
oldest shoot is bearing fruit. the
next is in blossom, the third is half
grown, and the last is just coming
eut Of the ground, thus making the
tree sort CT botanical Roman
candle, sending UP four branches
of fruit into the air in quick success
sion.
The banana rivals the modern hy-
gienist in its demand for sunshine
and water. It cares little indeed,
what sort Of soil in sends its roots in
to, so long as 1t has water and sun
shine in plenty. The slightest touch
of the frost is fatal.
a great hustler is the banana tree.
and it spends no time in idling. The
farmer plants = little shoot and in
less than a year it is full grown
tee with bunch Of lipe bananas
gracefully hanging from its top. 1t
ds2ctes its energies TO the one pur-
psse of growing and accomplishes
what it sets out to do.
Nor is the banana easily disccur-
agei. Perhaps the farmer comes
along sore day and cuts eff the
stalk. One would naturally y supfo-e c
.hat that would be the end of tie
b mana tree, but not so. In twenty
minutes little swelling appears il
the middle Of the stump which soon
pushes its way upward and tight
roll Of decdpitated leaves are seen.
In eight hours. not only the cut
leaves, but perfect leaves, tightly
rolled are seen, ard the shoot will
be two feet tail. In thirty-one hours
beautiful plant with four graceful
waving leaves will be found growing
cat cf the Old stump. This seems
hard to believe, bat MIR f. A. Agar,
recently took for the New York State
D D,p2rtment of Public Instruction, a
series of remarkable photographs
showing these facts. which have
been exhibited at numerous lectures
given in the public schools Of New
York. The owner of the plantation
where Mr.. Agar took the photo
graphs says that the particular plant
photographed was working under
somewhat difficult conditions, be
cause Of the dry weather at that
time; but. nevertheless, in one month
the tee was as large as ever.
Twenty years ago bananas in Amer
lea were rarity and were used only
IS a special dainty. Now, however
they are en- every breakfast tah.e
and are almost as common as apples.
They are brought from troplca
American countries in great cargoea
of thousands of punches and are
now, fortunately, sold at a price
which is within the means of ever
the poorest people.