MALAY ARCHIPELAGO 187 



there is a considerable tract of land planted with more 

 than sixty different varieties of bananas. Experiments 

 have been undertaken to determine the value as a food 

 product of banana flour, and the yield per acre. 



Junghuhn describes the " wax banana " of Java, the 

 leaves of which are covered on the underside with a minute 

 white powder. The Javanese scrape this meal together, 

 melt it over a fire, and produce a valuable wax. The wax 

 thus obtained becomes very clear, hard, and whitish, and 

 forms an important article of trade in middle Java. 

 Bleaching renders it very white. One banana tree (with 

 seven leaves) yields two ounces of wax. As there are 

 thousands and thousands of plants wild over large areas 

 the preparation of the wax is a remunerative enterprise. 



In Borneo the banana is cultivated everywhere up to 

 an altitude of 3000 ft. 



