186 THE BANANA 



Pisang alphuru : the flower-stalk is peculiar in bearing 

 leaves " two of which are at the base and similar to those 

 of the stem, but shorter and rounder. Then follow other 

 leaves which are small and narrow, and from each of them 

 rises a thick green stalk on which grow a few fruits, of 

 which, however, only a few come to perfection." 



Burbidge, in "Gardens of the Sun," writes as follows : 



" Last on my list, but by no means least, among the 

 tropical fruits of Eastern gardens, comes the pisang or 

 banana, which here is represented by many varieties, 

 which differ in size of fruit, flavour, and other particulars. 

 One of the most common varieties met with in the bazaars 

 is Pisang maas, or golden banana, the individual fruits of 

 which are small, but of a bright golden colour and of 

 excellent flavour. One of the most esteemed of all is 

 Pisang raja, or King of Bananas, a larger fruit, also of a 

 deep golden colour, the flavour being very luscious. 

 Pisang hijan, the green banana, is slender and angular, 

 but the straw-coloured pulp is of a most exquisite flavour, 

 and it is quite a favourite in Singapore, where the raja 

 variety is comparatively scarce. Pisang kling is a pale 

 yellow kind, bearing large, smooth fruits, and for eating 

 with cheese this is one of the best, being less sweet than 

 those just named. A large horned variety of banana 

 (generally used in a cooked state) is common in Borneo, 

 called by the natives Pisang tandok, the individual fruits 

 being 1 ft. long and 2 in. in diameter. The outer skin 

 is green, changing to yellow when fully ripe, and this fruit 

 is liked by those who do not relish the sweeter kinds." 



A variety called " King of Thousands " has very 

 numerous fruits on the bunch. A bunch grown in a 

 garden at Singapore, figured in Gardeners' Chronicle 

 (December 23, 1911), was about 7 ft. long. The number 

 of fruits must have been well over 2000, and they were 

 closely packed on the stalk. Even when the photograph 

 was taken, the fruiting stalk was continuing to develop 

 and was forming new fruits. 



On the experiment station grounds at Kuala Lumpur, 



