THE BANANAS OF HAWAII \) 



beneath the soil, and its relation to the aerial parts is not easily 

 recognized, but up in the mountains, on the steep slopes where 

 there is little soil, the bases are usually exposed, and all parts 

 of the plant may readily be seen. 



The plants in many of the deep sheltered ravines and glens 

 are very shallow rooted; one can easily overturn a large plant 

 with a single blow. This condition, combined with the heavy 

 rains and freshets in the mountain streams, results in a continual 

 down-stream migration of banana plants, they are uprooted, 

 wash down stream a few hundred feet or yards, lodge in some 

 angle or corner, sprout and root. In this way the beds of many 

 of the mountain streams, particularly in their upper courses, 

 are marked by clumps of bananas. 



Another mode of migration, much slower than the preceding, 

 is that which results from the natural growth of the clump. The 

 shoots that spring up around the margin are crowded outwards 

 at the base as their butts enlarge, and at the tops as their cano- 

 pies of great leaves unfurl. Thus there is a movement toward 

 the periphery, and the clump slowly spreads into new territory. 

 As the older stems, in the center, fruit and die, young sprouts 

 arise there to replace them, so that the clump is a solid stand of 

 stems in all stages of development. 



The native bananas are readily transplanted, and thrive 

 under culture. In Honolulu there are a number of private gar- 

 dens that contain series of the native varieties, collected in the 

 mountains and on the other islands. The part generally used 

 for propagation is a vigorous plump sucker or offshoot, 2 or 3 

 feet tall. This is carefully separated from the parent plant, so 

 as not to injure the base of the shoot. It is planted in mellow 

 soil, and usually set deep, half the length of the shoot under- 

 ground, so that the clump will be defep-rooted and not overturned 

 by the wind. The shoot quickly resumes its growth, and under 

 ordinary conditions will fruit within ten to fifteen months after 

 transplanting. 



The trunk or stem of the banana plant is made of petiole bases. 

 These are long, expanded, cellular, and closely ensheath one 

 another. United they form a false stem which is soft and juicy; 



