214 



TlMEHRl. 



American banana importer a considerable margin over 

 the cost of the fruit as purchased in Guiana. 



Cuba supplies a large quantity of this fruit, as well as 

 of the plantain, of which it is the sole exporter, sending 

 tons to Key West, from which it is distant about 90 

 miles. 



There are many varieties of bananas and plantains 

 mentioned in the report. Musa paradisiaca, variety 

 Sapientum, the most common banana, to eat which in 

 perfection, we are told it must be allowed to ripen on 

 the stalk — the Red Jamaica or Red Spanish, the stalks 

 and leaf ribs of which are wine colour, and the fruit 

 the red or purple banana shipped from the West Indies 

 to the northern ports. Its beauty recommends it as a 

 foliage plant. Hart's Choice, Lady Finger, &c, Musa 

 orientum, is reported to be the best and most profitable 

 banana cultivated in Florida. It is said to have come 

 from Abyssinia, but has long been grown in the West 

 Indies. Its fruit sells in the Florida markets for double 

 the price obtained for the Orinoco variety. 



It would be useless to mention each of the thirty-eight 

 varieties which find place in the report. Among them 

 are the Musa dacca from China, Musa ensete (non -edible) 

 from Abyssinia, Musa Suniarum or Acuminata^ from 

 Malacca and the Sunda Islands, where the fruit some- 

 times attains a length of two feet. Musa troglodytorum, 

 indigenous to India and the Pacific Islands, the fruit of 

 which stands upright, the list showing the various sources 

 from which the Florida banana growers have drawn their 

 supplies. 



Mr. JENMAN informs me, however, that in our Botanic 

 Gardens there are, including plantains, probably from 



