INDIA AND CEYLON 181 



known as the " guindy " is considered the best banana, 

 and is described as round, small sized, with a very thin 

 rind, luscious, sweet, and of a most delicate flavour. A 

 good bunch may contain over a thousand fruits. It has 

 been said that no one knows what a banana is until he 

 eats a Madras " guindy." The best plantain is a large 

 one called " Monthen." 



The central * and northern parts of Travancore have 

 two wet seasons and are therefore suitable for the cultiva- 

 tion of the banana and plantain. It is the plantain which 

 is commonly grown. A well-drained deep, rich, red soil 

 is most suitable, but a good crop is also produced in black 

 soil. About a year before planting, the soil is ploughed 

 frequently and the ground is enclosed with mud walls or 

 fences to protect the crop from cattle. Planting generally 

 takes place between December and February. When the 

 soil is well prepared, pits 3 ft. deep and 3 ft. round are dug 

 8 ft. apart. To manure the pits, dried leaves are burnt 

 within them, and the ashes are well mixed with loose soil 

 to fill up three-fourths of their depth. This also protects 

 the plants from white ants. The shoots are then planted 

 in the pits and manured with fresh cow-dung. The pits 

 are then filled with earth up to the level of the ground, and 

 covered over with dried leaves to protect them from the 

 sun. The shoots are not watered, but occasional showers 

 help them to strike root and grow. When they make a 

 fair start, they are manured with cow- dung (fresh is pre- 

 ferable) and green leaves. Most of the plantations when 

 established continue to produce fruit for ten or more years, 

 provided the soil is regularly ploughed, weeded, and 

 manured. 



The skin is peeled irom the plantain, and the pulp is cut 

 into slices and dried in the sun. For infant food the slices 

 are pounded into flour ; for adult food the slices are fried 

 in oil or ghee with salt. The fried article is preserved for 

 months in new earthen pots in a cool place. Fibre is 

 extracted from the trunk. Secondary crops are cultivated 

 * Agric. Journ. of India, v. 252 (1910). 



