Bananas. 



Before terminating this First Part, it is necessary to devote 

 a few lines to the Bananas, that profitable and indispensable 

 by-product of every cacao-plantation. 



The Banana (Musa Paradisiaca) is in this colony the chief 

 article of food. Besides the utility derived irom it as an auxiliary 

 shade, this tree, in a favourable season and under ordinary 

 circumstances, contributes in a great measure to defray a part 

 of the expenses attending the laying out of a cacao-plantation. 

 Every young cacao-plantation begins at the same time with 

 Bananas, and if you have the good fortune to hit upon good 

 cropholding banana-land, you will soon at very little expense 

 come into the possession of luxuriant, flourishing cacao-fields. 



Fields in which the cacao will not take root, on account of 

 the Bananas being blown down, had better be planted with 

 Bacoves as auxiliary shade. The stem of the Bacove has a much 

 greater compass than the Banana by the sprouts shooting up 

 around it from the ground. It is not so subject to be blown 

 down, as it roots much more sturdily, gives more coolness, 

 and grows capitally where the ordinary Banana will not or cannot 

 grow. It is true that, contrary to the Banana, the Bacove yields no 

 profit, but the advantage that the young cacao-plants enjoy 

 from them, is a full compensation. 



