Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1911-01-06

Il not as well known in the United
States as the alligator pear In
today. Within the memory Of
two generations the imports OF
this fruit have grown from nil to 40
000,0 punches. Three billion ba-
nanas. retailing for s35, 100000. That
is the banana budget of the United
States for 1910. The fruit has made
this remarka Bile advance in public IA
vor strictly on its merits" to use a
commercial colloquailism. Capt b.
ker Of Cape Cod brought a few
punches of bananas from Jamaica to
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 of
| the banana business. for the importa-
ton proved an instant commercial
success. The fruit was 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 profiuent
republic sending out from her fertile
valleys one-half of the worlds supply
of musa sapientium. Such is the sci
entific name and it means .of the wise
muse" 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 height of from
Is to 40 feet. the curious trunk formed
of compact sheathing leaf stalks, re-
sembling corn in some degree. but hs-
ing about inches in diameter and
much more firm In structure. 1t is
"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 few minutes. while |
leaves viii unfold from the center of
the trunk within 36 hours. The legiti-
mate growth of the plant varies from
seven months to two and half years
before 1t fructifies.
sight in every fruit store. develops
from 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 ii is
the custom to hang the punches after
they are cut One bunch to a tree
is the rule. and they vary in length
from to 8 feet and in weight froE
so to so pounds, which latter. however.
is exceptional The commercial clas-
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 ,
Bunches growing nine hands {
or over command the higher prices I
and are called "firsts" by the trade. Z
Seconds" are punches that vary from !
seven to nine hands and bring con- 7
sequently lower price. All punches 5
having less than seven hands are I'M +
fit for shipment. and these are the :
element of loss in banana cultivation. =
The punches are cut while green (the
greatest care being needed in the OPP :
,ration) and allowed to continue to :
ward the ripening stage during the h
-oyage TO their ultimate destination.
care and experience is necessary in .
handling bananas during shipment so :,
IS to insure the lowest possible :
AMOUNT of loss from deterioration. T
The banana as a food goes back to :,
he very beginning of things. despite :
Is very recent introduction into the :,
United States. The variety para
isiaca. it is claimed by few authori-
les. was the forbidden fruit" of the o
Harden Of Eden. a contention difficult
o verify. Nevertheless. there can be q
% doubt as to the remote antiquity 81
{ its service as an aliment. for the p
anana plant had diffusion possibly Il
Interior to that of the human races p
! is the staple OF diet in parts OF n
hina, India. the Philippines. Egypt.
reece, Sicily. Spain. the West Indies CT
iexico. Central America. and South U
merica-countries and continents all 81
varieties Of the musa- The I'll
anana belt encircles the earth. 1900 lie
liles on either side OF the equator.
here was doubt as to whether the de
liant was Indigenous to America In
either Columbus nor Cortez men, w
ons having seen bananas during their tn
rplorations; however. we have the pc
IEh authority Of the scientist Hum 10