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which, it is cut down : several suckers then 

 soon come up from the roots, which in six or 

 eight months produce fruit, so that by cutting 

 down the stalks at different times, there is a 

 constant succession of fruit all the year. 



When the plantain is grown to it's full 

 height, the spikes of flowers appear in the 

 centre, which is about four feet long. The 

 flowers come out in bunches, those in the 

 lower part of the spike being the largest; 

 each of these buriches is covered with a 

 sheath of a fine purple colour, which drops 

 off when the flowers open. The upper part 

 of the spike is made up of male flowers, 

 which are succeeded by the fruit, that is of 

 a pale yellow colour when ripe ; and the 

 spikes of fruit often weigh upwards of forty 

 pounds. This plant has been reared in our 

 stoves since the year 1690. 



The Banana Tree: Musa Sapientum. 

 This tree so much resembles the plantain, 

 that it is only known at first by the dark 

 spots on its stem, which the other has not. 

 This is a wholesome fruit, and is used at 

 desserts. From it a pleasant drink is made, 

 exceeding our cider. When baked in tarts, 

 or boiled in dumplings, this fruit tastes like 



