588 THE BANANA AND MELON. 



till the leaves have become quite lax and almost flagging, and then 

 supply water and heat liberally. 



The Banana. 



The banana (Musa sapientum, L.), is a scitamineous plant, the 

 natural history and culture of which have been already given, p. 511. 

 Every plant throws up a single flower-stem, which flowers and 

 fruits ; after which the plant dies, and is succeeded by a sucker. 

 The fruit of none of the varieties contains seed, and hence these 

 suckers are the only means of propagation. There are several species 

 or varieties, but those best worth cultivating in Britain are the M. s. 

 Cavendishii (syn. M. s. chinensis), and the M. s. Dacca, both already 

 noticed, and the M. s. St. Helenensis, to be afterwards described. 

 Several other kinds have been grown in the different public and pri- 

 vate gardens of Britain. 



Musa sapientum, var. St. Helenensis, the St. Helena banana, grows 

 to the height of fourteen feet. The usual weight of each bunch of 

 fruit is from 60 Ibs to 80 Ibs. 



M. s. var. Dacca, the Dacca banana, is considered by some as next 

 in value to the St. Helena variety. Its average height of stem is 

 seven feet, producing clusters from 10 Ibs. to 20 Ibs. weight. The fruit 

 is smaller and drier than that of the St. Helena banana, but perhaps 

 rather higher flavoured. This variety, when allowed plenty of room 

 in a congenial climate, grows twenty feet high, with a stem measuring 

 three feet in circumference at the base ; leaves ten feet long and 

 three feet broad. Bunches of fruit have been produced weighing 

 above 50 Ibs. The fruit is more pointed than that of M. s. Cavendishii, 

 and is of excellent quality. 



M. s. var. Cavendishii, syn. M. s. chinensis, the Duke of Devonshire's 

 banana, is valuable on account of its fruiting at a small size, and within 

 a year from the time the suckers are taken off. This is the most 

 useful variety that can be grown, as it requires so much less head- 

 room than any of the other fruiting sorts. 



Culture, fyc. Twenty plants of Musa s. Cavendishii may be fruited 

 within the year, in a pit thirty feet by fifteen feet, and the weight of 

 fruit produced may be from 400 Ibs. to 500 Ibs. They also grow and 

 fruit exceedingly well either in pots, tubs, or planted out in a common 

 plant-stove. The summer temperature for the banana is 65 min. and 

 85 max., or more with sun heat. Winter temperature, 65 min. and 

 75 max. The bananas that ripen in winter are but little inferior to 

 the summer fruit. They thrive best, at all seasons, with a bottom heat 

 of from 80 to 90, though they will grow and ripen fruit without it. 



The Melon. 



The melon (Cucumis Melo, L.) is a trailing or climbing tendrilled 

 annual, the history and culture of which will be found at p. 492, and 

 the following are the best varieties at present in cultivation. 



Melons with Scarlet Flesh. Moreton Hall, Turner's Scarlet Gem, 

 Royal Ascot, International, Netted Scarlet, Hunt's Medium Scarlet. 



