CONCLiJSlONS. 67 



judicious pruning of the young trees to induce them to develop theii* 

 crowns from some of the members of the first whorl of branches, in- 

 stead of allowing them to produce a succession of uprights and 

 whorls. 



The banana plant also produces two forms of suckers or offshoots, 

 corresponding to the dimorphic branches of the woody species. The 

 so-called sword suckers represent true permanent branches of the 

 rhizome. They arise from large subterranean shoots nourished by the 

 parent plant, and bear at first only narrow, sword-shaped leaves. 



The so-called broad-leaved suckers arise as relatively small shoots 

 from near the surface of the ground. Even in the young stage they 

 produce broad-bladed leaves like those of the adult plant, and are 

 adapted for separate propagation. 



Dormant tuber-like suckers of the broad-leaved type are formed 

 on uprooted rhizomes, and constitute a readily portable form of 

 propagating stock from which vigorous and productive banana plants 

 may be grown. The use of such tubers may render it possible to 

 produce bananas under a system of rotation with other tropical 

 crops. 



198 



