10$ Isles of summer. 



they ate it. Others indulged in its use freely and with apparent 

 impunity. We were at first very incredulous when stories reached 

 us seriously reflecting upon it as a disguised enemy of the human 

 stomach and constitution. We gave it our confidence, and also 

 room very near to our hearts. We defended it to the best of 

 our ability, with zeal if not with knowledge. We said it was an 

 impeachment of Divine Providence to allege that its golden links 

 of most delicious sweetness — so tempting to the four senses — 

 sight, touch, taste and smell — were indigestible, health-destroy- 

 ing, deceitful and bad. But Ave began finally, to have doubts, 

 and at last thought we perceived after eating them, an unpleas- 

 ant sensation right in the center of one of our seats of happiness. 

 We inquired concerning it of physicians, and found, as in other 

 cases where experts testifv, that they widely and materially dif- 

 fered. Very reluctantly and Avith some misgivings, we are com- 

 pelled to admit, that, being plucked when quite green, for that 

 or some other reason, it does not agree Avith all, and in many 

 cases is injurious to health, yet the banana is said to be ''exten- 

 sively used for food, and in many of the Pacific islands it is the 

 staple on which the natives depend. In its immature condition, 

 it contains much starch which on ripening changes into sugar. 

 * * * From the unripe fruit, dried in the sun, a useful and nutri- 

 tious flour is prepared." — [British Encyclopedia.] It Avoijld seem 

 from the published analysis of the fruit, and of the flour made 

 from it, that it must generally be a healthy article of diet for 

 healthy people, and our advice, if asked, Avould be that once given 

 to us by a skillful and experienced physician — ''eat of it, if 3'ou 

 like, until you ascertain by your personal experience that to you 

 it is hurtful.*' 



The banana is an herbaceous plant, and, after fruiting, its top 

 dies, but it annually sprouts again from its roots. It attains a 

 height of from fifteen to twenty feet, and its curved and droop- 

 ing leaves have a Avidth of from one to two feet. 



