7;,4 Tin-: floka of nokfolk island, 



jected it to practical test. On enquiring why the industry was 

 flyinrr <,ul, T was told, ''It's too hard work." It seems a pity 

 that a useful minor industry like this should die out. The people 

 are accjuainted with the technique of the manufacture, and I see 

 no reason why, providing there is no tariff difficulty in the way, 

 tlie Norfolkers should not have a fair share of the Sydney market 

 for their product. 



Potato.— Downing wrote in 1851 :— "The common or round 

 potato is cultivated, but not with success, although four crops are 

 produced yearly from the same soil. There is a great tendency 

 to run to stalk, from the rapidity of growth, and the tubers are 

 1,'eiierally small and watery." I tasted some very good potatoes, 

 although there is a tendency towards too much planting on the 

 same soil, and too little change of seed. 



Fruits. 



Banana.— On 18th October, 1796, Lieut.-Govr. King reported : 



"The bananas yo?tnc/ on the island and those brought from the 



Brazils grew to a very great perfection, the bunches weighing 

 from 40 to {?0 lb. each." 



Collins (2nd ed. 149) states that King was of opinion that the 

 Island had contained aboriginal inhabitants "from discovering 

 the banana tree growing in regular rows." But see my remarks 

 under Colocasia, p. 723. Endlicher, Prod. Norf. 75, admits Musa 

 paradisiaca, Linn., into the flora on this evidence. He quotes 

 Collins (2nd ed. 311), but I cannot find the reference, and Hunter 

 (p. 290) (I note Hunter, pp. 306 and 308), but perhaps in a 

 German edition, and there is no reference at this page of the 

 English edition. I am of opinion that the Banana was not found 

 on the Island prior to the advent of the white man, and that the 

 record lias arisen through some confusion with a note of King's 

 (.see p. 723). At the same time King's remark above, in italics, is 

 very definite. Bananas have long been a staple article of food 

 of the people, and I feel sure that the small export trade in this 

 commcxlity c<juld be very largely developed. They are eaten at 

 every meal, and are largely used as a vegetable. 



