American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-12-28

not IN Wen KNOWN III tue Uuit0t
States as the alligator pear Il
today. Within the memory o
two generations the imports o
this fruit have grown from nil to 40.
,000, 900 punches. Three billion ba
nanas. retailing for $35. 900, 900. THAI
ia the banana budget of the United
States for 1910. The fruit has made
this remarkable advance In public IA
o strictly on It's merits" to use a
commercial colloquailism. Capt. Ia
ker Of Cape Cod brought a few
lunches OF bananas from Jamaica tc
New York In 1870. and although this
was not the first time the fruit had
found Its way to the United States
shores, still he became the father oil
the banana business. for the importa'
ton proved an instant commercial
success, The fruit vas a high-priced
novelty In the market where a brisk
demand furnished the inspiration for
the great banana industry OF today.
Costa Rica holds first place In the
cultivation OF this fruit. that profuent
republic sending out from her fertile
valleys one-half OF the worlds supply
OF sapientium. Such Is the sci
entific name and 1t means "of the wise
muse a reference to the statement
of Theophrastus that the ancient
sages reposed In the shade OF the ba-
mana tree and refreshed themselves
with the fruit thereof.
The tree grows to q height of from
IL to 40 feet. the curious trunk formed
of compact sheathing leaf stalks, re.
sembling corn In some degree. but be.
Ing about s inches In diameter and
much more firm In structure. 1t Ia
'endogenous." which In botany means
increasing by internal growth and
elongation at the summit" This quail
ity OF increasing by internal growth
partly explains the magic develop
ment Of the newly cut banana stalk.
which will be observed to shoot up
some inches In a few minutes. while
leaves will unfold from the center OF
the trunk within 36 hours. The legiti-
mate growth Of the plant varies from
months to two and a half years
before II fructifles.
The bunch OF bananas, a common
sight In every fruit store, develops
from a large, heart-shaped. scaly bud,
which becomes pendant; the scales
separate and disclose groups OF up
ward-pointing flowers. sometimes to
the number of $50. These are the ba-
mana blossoms which turn into the
fruit that grows with the detached
end up, just contrary TO the way 1t Is
the custom to hang the lunches after
they are cut. One bunch to a tree
Is the rule. and they vary In length
from 2 to 3 feet and in weight from
so to so pounds. which latter. however.
Is exceptional. The commercial elias
siica,ion Is by hands" a hand being
a cluster OF the fruit which, with the
exercise of Imagination, may be said
to sesemble that useful anatomical
member. lunches growing nine hands
or over command the higher prices
and are called "firsts" by the trade.
Seconds" are lunches that vary from
seven TO nine hands and bring a con
seauently lower price. All punches
having less than seven hands are un-
III for shipment. and these are the
element of loss In banana cultivation
The punches are cut while green tthe
greatest care being needed In the OPP
eration) and allowed to continue to-
ward the ripening stage during the
voyage 10 their ultimate destination.
Care and experience IS necessary In
handling bananas during shipment so
as TO insure the lowest possible
amount OF loss from deterioration.
The banana as a food goes back to
the very beginning OF things. despite
It's very recent introduction into the
United States. The variety para.
iisiaca. Il Is claimed by a few authori.
lies. war the forbidden fruit" OF the
Garden Of Eden. a contention difficult
o verify. Nevertheless, there can be
10 doubt as to the remote antiquity
u Its service ~ an aiiment. for the
panama plant had a diffusion possibly
anterior to that OF the auman races
Z Is the staple OF diet in parts of
1hina. India. the Philippines. Egypt.
ireece. Sicily, Spain. the West Indies.
Mexico. Central America. and South
Amcrica--countries and continents all
producing varieties OF The musa. The
,anana belt encircies the earth. 1900
niles on either side OF the equator.
There al doubt ~ 10 whether the
liant was indigenous 10 America.
Neither Columbus nor cortex men.
ions hayipx ss<p bananas during their
txDiorsttonss. however, W. h4ye the
3lGb authority q the scientist Hum.