24 THE BANANA 



which gives 222 holes or 444 suckers ; and 11 by 11 ft., 

 with a single sucker to each hole or 361 per acre. If an 

 attempt be made to grow over 450 suckers per acre, 

 although the land may be so fertile that there is a good 

 proportion of straights, and there might be a chance of 

 reaping the plant crop during the months of high prices, 

 it will invariably be found that the ratoons are away out. 

 Planting at 10 by 10 ft. I could never recommend, but 

 15 by 15 ft. or 16 by 16 ft., carrying three suckers per 

 stool, may be practised with success on the St. Catherine 

 plains, but with the aid of irrigation." 



With reference to the subject of distances between 

 plants, a friend writes : 



" In wide planting there is less risk of a falling tree 

 carrying another with it. The roots of the banana appear 

 to require a radius of at least 8 ft., and wide planting has 

 always commended itself, in my experience, as the best 

 agriculture ; that is to say, sufficiently wide planting to 

 give the plant or tree space admitting of its full and best 

 development. Among other advantages cultivation is 

 easier ; and beyond question the higher the cultivation the 

 better is the fruit obtained." 



Digging Holes. Some planters are content with shallow 

 holes about 1 ft. deep. But better results are obtained 

 when holes 2 ft. 6 in. every way are dug ; the roots get a 

 better start and a better hold on the ground, so that the 

 plants are more forward and are not so liable to be blown 

 down. 



A planter who prepares holes 3 ft. to 4 ft. wide and 

 from 2 ft. to 2 J ft. deep, writes : " It is not always possible 

 to get the labour to make these holes, but I am convinced 

 of the advantage and ultimate economy of making them 

 large and deep : among other reasons, the plant gets a 

 start at once ; a good root is formed in the loosened earth 

 which practically 4 anchors ' the tree, and enables it to 

 resist high winds, and when planted in this way the 

 tendency of the root to come to the surface is greatly 

 obviated." 



