226 THE BANANA 



Guiana under cultivation with plantains and bananas 

 amounts to 17,800 acres. 



The plantain chiefly grown is the " white plantain " 

 with green stem and leaf -stalks ; it is prolific and very 

 valuable, as the fruit is of the best quality. The " black 

 plantain " is similar, but the leaf -stalks and stem are 

 purple or blackish. The " giant " or " horse plantain " 

 has very large fruit. There are regular plantations of 

 plantains, whereas bananas are grown in mixed cultivation. 

 Plantains are considered an essential article of food, while 

 bananas are a luxury. 



The most common banana grown is the well-known 

 Chinese. Other varieties are : " Small fig " or " Lady's 

 Finger " ; fruit densely packed, clear straw colour when 

 ripe, 3 to 4 in. long, pulp melting, flavour good. " Large 

 fig " or " cokerite " ; fruit curved as a rule, 4 to 5 in. 

 long ; good bunches contain 300 to 400 fruits strongly 

 recommended for export purposes. The Jamaican is not 

 so common as any of the above. The v - Surinam " or 

 " sour banana " ; fruit 6 to 8 in. long, straw-coloured, 

 pulp rather woolly with harder centre, of somewhat acid 

 taste. " Giant green " or " Canaan banana " ; fruit stout, 

 densely arranged, 6 to 7 in. long, colour yellow. " Giant 

 red " ; fruit stout, dull red, 5 to 7 in. long, flavour good. 

 " Arrababa " or " apple banana " ; fruit of soft texture, 

 slightly acid, 7 to 8 in. long, skin very thick, pale yellow ; 

 " not of much use for eating raw like other bananas, but 

 cooked it is the best of all." Chinese ; produces heaviest 

 bunches, often with 200 fruits. 



Messrs. Harrison and Jenman experimented with 

 bananas. They state : " The banana is a gross feeder and 

 requires liberal cultivation. A copious rainfall, good soil 

 and tillage, free drainage and liberal dressings of manure 

 where the ground is permanently used, are all essential 

 conditions to the production of first-class fruit. When 

 stable dung is procurable, its application pays well. In 

 the experiments we have tried with artificial manures, 

 sulphate of ammonia, applied about 2 cwt. to the acre at 



