FKUITS VARIETIES AND CULTUIiE. 487 



BANANA. — ( Musa sapientium.) 



Several varieties of this fruit have been in cultivation 

 throughout Florida and along the coast of South Caro- 

 lina, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana for many years. 

 But, like all other sub-tropical fruits, it attains its best 

 condition in growth and perfection of fruit far south in 

 Florida, some bunches containing as many as ^00 

 bananas. 



The varieties in general cultivation in Florida are: 



Baracoa. — The red Jamaica variety, with large fruit, 

 good quality and red in color. This is the ordinary com- 

 mercial variety. 



Cavendish. — Also known as "Dwarf," "Chinese," 

 "Martinique" {M. (Javendishii), medium size, yellow and 

 excellent quality of fruit; a dwarf species. 



Golden. — Fruit large, yellow and of good quality. 



These three are the best market varieties. 



Hart's Choice (J/, orient tan). — Ranges farther north 

 than the Baracoa, Cavendish or Golden. Small growth; 

 sometimes called fig banana; quality excellent; yellow in 

 color, ltipens sooner than other varieties. 



Orinoco or " Horse " Banana (M. paradissica). — 

 Hardy, and grows farther north than any other variety; 

 quality of fruit fair; large and yellow in color. 



The banana is propagated by suckers or offsets. When 

 the fruit ripens the plant dies down to the ground, and 

 several shoots afterwards put forth from the roots. All 

 of these should be cut out and transplanted except two 

 or three of different ages, which, when they grow to 

 maturity, will ripen their fruits in successive years. In 

 transplanting the offsets or tuckers the land must be 

 well prepared and holes about two feet deep dug and 

 an ample supply of fertilizer containing potash and 



