60 



yrowing-, which hiis ])ecome quite inii)()rtant at Hilo and the surround- 

 iiio- country, cxpoi-iments are being carried on with diti'erent methods 

 of planting- and caring for l)anana.s. It is a somewhat common prac- 

 tice to plant ver}^ deepl}^, regardless of variety, soil, or other condi- 

 tions. The experiments have already shown that this practice must 

 be modified, but they have not yet reached completion. 



It was believed also that a mistake was being- made by many planters 

 in the use of very small ofl'-sets. Consequentlv, a test was begun in the 

 use of off-sets of all sizes as well as of old corms. These experi- 

 ments are not yet far enough advanced to show conclusive results, 

 but the evidence is in favor of large plants. 



The fertilizing of bananas is an important c^uestion among the 

 banana growers of Hilo. In a plat devoted to the Chinese, or Caven- 

 dish banana, which is the commercial variety in the islands, a fertilizer 

 experiment has been begun in which many different combinations of 

 fertilizing ingredients have been applied. It is believed that the 

 results of these tests will throw some valuable light upon this ques- 

 tion, which is of great importance to the industry. 



A collection of a large number of native and recently introduced 

 bananas occupies one of the sections, together with 150 or 200 stools 

 of the Bluefields or Jamaica variety, which is being propagated as 

 rapidly as possible for distribution by the territorial board of agri- 

 culture and forestry, in cooperation with which the work with this 

 variety is being carried on. 



A new commercial variety, it is believed, will be found in the form 

 locally known as the Brazilian, which is probably the same as the 

 Pisang Radjah, or the Pisang Medgi of Java. This variety has not 

 been exported because of its habit of falling from the bunch when 

 thoroughly ripe. It is, however, so superior to the Cavendish variety 

 in many wa3^s that we believe it will pa}^ for greater care in handling 

 when its merits come to be known. In point of flavor it far exceeds 

 any banana now in the American market and is excelled by none 

 grown in the Territor3^ It seems to be nmch less subject to some of 

 the diseases which mar the appearance of the Chinese banana and is 

 very much more attractive, being of a clear, yellow coloi'. A large part 

 of the temporarj' shade for cacao at the Hilo plantation is composed of 

 this variety of banana, the intention being to make experimental ship- 

 ments of the fruit later to San Francisco. 



SHIPMENT AND COLD STORAGE OF TROPICAL FRUITS. 



This is a subject which is worthy of much attention. As a l)egin- 

 ning a shipment of avocados was made to New York City late in the 

 summer of 1904. These fruits were packed in various ways and 

 received somewhat different treatment before shipment. The results 



