increased by the above proce 

 usually produce seeds freely, 

 quickly grown, and with less 

 Bananas should be sown as fi 

 them the same as recommemli 

 soon as the seedlings showth.i 



, iii^'s. As 

 ,1 , 111. y should 

 N of rich, moist 

 L^dit bottom heat, 

 ■ in may demand, 

 iild have proper 

 rapid, 



unchecked growth gives the best and quickest 



The cultivation of Bananas for fruit is carried on very 

 extensively in all tropical countries. In the West Indies, 

 Central America and Mexico, they are raised for export 

 to the United States and Canada. The site selected is 

 usuallv a level plain in the lowlands, near the coast, or 

 in valleys among the hills, where the rainfall or artificial 

 moisture is sufficient. The variety most commonly 

 grown at present is the Martinique, having large bunches, 

 ■with long, yellow fruit. The Bara(;oa (or Bed Jamaica) 

 is more sparingly grown now than formerly, and its dark 

 red fruits, of largest size, are not commonly exported. 

 For distant shipping, bunches of fruit are cut with 

 "machetes" or knives, after they reach their full size 

 and are almost mature, but quite green in color. Ripen- 

 ing is effected during shipment in warm weather, and 

 by storing in dark, artiflcially-heated rooms during cold 

 weather. Banana flour is a valuable product of ripe 

 Bananas prepared among the plantations in the tropics. 

 It is nutritious, and has an increasing demand and use 

 as human food. A recently invented process of drying 

 ripe Bananas has been found very successful, and the 

 industry promises to be of vast importance as the mar- 

 ketable article finds ready sale. In the United States 

 there is little commercial cultivation of Bananas, since 

 the frostless zone is narrow and the fruit can be grown 



-.-^^0^ 



A bearing: Banana plant. 



SO much more cheaply in Central America and the West 

 Indies. Small Banana plantations are common in south- 



PTISIA 131 



the Pacific coast. The plants 

 without injury. A frost of 5 

 h'lives, but if the plants are 

 tiiiH-. new foliage may appear 

 till- entire top is killed, new 



suckers will sprinir up and bear fruit the following year. 



A stalk, or trunk, bears but once ; but the new sprouts 

 roots of the same pla 



iana, and south westward t 

 will endure a slight fmst 

 or 6 degrees will kill tin 

 nearly full grown at tin- 



188. Tip of fli 



the fruit-bearing. A strong sprout should bear when 

 12-18 months old (from 2-3 years in hothouses). The 

 plantation will, therefore, continue to bear for many 

 years. A bearing stalk, as grown in southern California, 

 is shown in Fig. 187. 



The peculiar flower-bearing of the Banana is shown in 

 Fig. 188, which illustrates the tip of a flower-cluster. 

 This cluster may be likened to a gintit elongating bud, 

 ■with large, tightly overhipi'itiL' i.-mI'"' "v l.r:i<'t«. Three 

 of these bracts are shown in ./...- m OiiiVi.M inu'esof 

 the flowering. As they i. ., i i ! - i In-low 



them expand. The briu^i i i ' i . ! -i^ soon 



shed their envelopes, Imi ili- ^-nIi- , /-, ji- r-i^t fur a 

 time. The ovaries soon swell into Biuiau:i,s, <-. The bracts 

 are royal purple and showy. e. N. Reasonek. 



BANCROFT, GEOKGE. The famous American his- 

 torian (1800-1891) deserves remembrance among horti- 

 culturists for his splendid collection of roses at his sum- 

 mer home in Newport, R. I., an account of which may 

 be found in the American Garden, 1891. For a portrait 

 and sketch, see Appletou's Annual Cyclopedia tor 1890. 

 In Mr. Bancroft's garden, George Field found a rose with- 

 out a name, which is now known to be the French variety 

 Mine. Ferdinand Jamin. It was introduced by Field & 

 Bro. as the Amerii^an Beauty. Though little known 

 abroad, it is, probably, the most famous of all roses cult. 

 in America. 



BANEBEEEY. See Actiea. 



BANKSIA (Sir Joseph Banks, 1743-1820, famous Eng- 

 lish scientist). ProteAceie. Many species of Australian 

 evergreen shrubs, with handsome foliage, but scarcely 

 kno-wn in cult. here. Prop, by nearly mature cuttings, 



BANYAN TBEE. See Fie 



Indi. 



BAOBAB. 



i Adansonia. 



BAPTtSIA (Greek, to dye, alluding to the coloring 

 matterin some species). Syn. , Podalyria. Leguminbsm. 

 Small 'genus of perennial herbs of eastern N. Amer. 

 Corolla papilionaceous, the standard not larger than the 

 wings : calyx campanulate, the 5 teeth separate and 

 equal or the 2 upper ones united: stamens 10, distinct : 

 pod stalked in the calyx. — Plants usually turn black in 

 drying. Baptisias are suitable for borders. They thrive 

 in any ordinary soil and under common treatment, pre- 

 ferring free exposure to sun. Prop, by division or 

 seeds. 



