46 THE BANANA 



out additional roots. It is claimed by cultivators of the 

 banana in Central America that by the use of this imple- 

 ment or tool stronger plants can be grown, which are 

 more firmly rooted and fixed in the soil, and are thereby 

 better able to withstand and resist the force of strong 

 winds. The plants so treated are also held to be more 

 vigorous and to produce superior bunches of fruit. 



44 The name baraton (plural, bar atones] is Spanish, and 

 signifies a long lever. In Central America this implement 

 is often termed a macana, which is a Mexican Indian term 

 denoting a wooden weapon made use of in war by the 

 Indians. In shape and appearance the tool resembles 

 somewhat a long-handled spade, but the blade, instead of 

 being flat, as in the spade, is made in the form of a vertical 

 section of a cylinder, being curved or hollowed laterally. 

 Its form thus adapts it to the circular contour of the stem, 

 and it is forced into the soil pretty close to the decaying 

 stem, and the adjacent earth is loosened by moving the 

 long handle as a lever. It is then withdrawn and applied 

 to the stem in a similar manner on the opposite side. 

 Finally the mass of dead and decaying stem is removed 

 by using the implement in front as if it were a spade. 

 The soil is then filled in. 



" The steel part of the implement is about 5 in. wide ; 

 its height or depth is about 19 in., and the handle is very 

 long in order to be used as a lever." 



REPLANTING 



It is considered advisable to replant a banana walk 

 after an interval which varies from three to six years. 

 A certain proportion is replanted each year, so that every 

 year some planting is going on. Advantage should be 

 taken of this interval to increase the humus in the land. 

 This can be very well managed by sowing some leguminous 

 crop (such as Bengal beans, Jerusalem beans, velvet beans, 

 or bonavist beans) in the field that is to be thrown up. 

 If the land can be ploughed, two furrows may be run up 



