Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-17
POPULAR FRUITS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN

Tn addition to growing more fruit than ANY other
nation United States is large importer OF tropcaI
fruits including lemon. the date the ng and the
banana of these the last is the most popular. Ba-
nanas are in demand both b the tenements ana the
drawing rooms Of the nation they are the cheapest
fruit on market and they are nutritious AZ the
Centennial exposition held in Philadelphia In 1875 the
first banana was on exhibition ana attracteo =
great Of attention. Bananas wrapped IN TN hOh
vera then selling a exclusive fruit stands Tor
ten cents apiece and sometimes more Now millions
of bananas are imported and sell for ten cents dozen
or less. ..e+
Perhaps no other fruit has been quite so ma
gned and dscreded the with as little effect
universal popularity. Because 1t does not agree
with people, the impression has been created that
anyone banana is taking large chance with
his digestion, but day several million Americans
see fit to disregard that chance. We are also ire
uuentIy told the banana as we get 1t In this
country compare with the native fruit as ls
eaten straight in the tropcs that ship
ping the fruit destroys its delicious flavor
AS a matter of fact. the bananas that are sold at
Kingston Havana better than those sold In
the United States because the ripenng process mas
been Just the same. Bananas never permitted to
ripen on trees If they they would not be
fit to eat
Another erroneous Impression concerning the ba-
mana wild all over the jungles OF the
tropics and that native has to do when hungry
is to wander jungle and pluck good-sized
bunch of fruit banana tree There Is
a wild banana growth in the tropical jungles. but
II does edible fruit The banana Is a cult-
waited fruit of pantan family introduced into South
America from by early Spanish conqufstadorts
and grown groves that cared scientifically
as any citrus-fruit plantation. The banana is often
confused with species OF plantain which grows
prolificay throughout Central America and is cooked
by the natives who 1t a vegetable. 1t is the
principal staple the tropical diet, having somewhat
the same place potatoes in this country.
Today the American demand for bananas far exceeds
the Importation although fruit companies con-
stantly increasing size Of their equipment with
view to supplying Of them One problem has
never ceased bother the industry-the problem of
getting New York before they rfpen Every
wear whole shiploads thrown overheard because
they turn black while only half the coast A
fruit expert formerly with the department of agricul
ture is employed by big fruit company for the
purpose studying conditions in the holds Of the
ships and ascertaning, If possible new method by
which the bananas may be landed unrpe at New York
food prices have the banana has come
into use as a vegetable the American menu, as has
also the apple Both crops large this year, and
even the poorest citizens will be able to take the
advice of the Of the and eat
fruit The old axiom. IAN apple day keeps the doctor
away" is by the doctors themselves to be
truthful poetica If this will be hard year
on the doctors for Americans preparing to eat
nearly sixty-eight million barrels Of apples -