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substances, with small quantities of fibre and ash constituents. Of 
the ash constituents, potash represents 50 per cent. and phosphoric 
acid 15 per cent. 
Until lately Western Australia has heen drawing supplies of this 
fruit from Fiji and Queensland. Since then Java, which is nearer 
our ports, has diverted the trade. On account of the protracted 
time required in shipping them from the extreme East to the West 
coast of Australia, the fruit we receive is of very indifferent qnality. 
It had to be picked before it is fully developed and when quite green, 
and it therefore ripened in an artificial manner in the crates used by 
the shippers. Bananas were then introduced in our market during the 
winter and spring months when all fruits are searce, and there is no 
reason to doubt that considerably larger quantities would readily 
be consumed if better fruit grown nearer our own market was cb- 
tainable, more especially if sold at a lower price. 
In 1918 there were 7,817 acres under Bananas in Queensland, 
and the published returns are 1,267,640 bunches, an average of 162 
per acre, or reckoning the bunches at 10 dozen each—a low ayeraze 
under favourable conditions—1,620 dozen. 
In the nine years, 1910-1918, the average bunches per acre 
numbered only 158, or 1,580 dozen. : 
In the decade, 1890-1899, the average was 467 bunches, or 4,670 
dozen. 
In New South Wales there were in— 
1910 under Banana crop .. .. .. 100 aeres. 
1919 there are .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,000 acres. 
In Fiji the acreage under eee is 4,000 acres. There is still 
ample room for expansion. In the cities the sales could be much 
iereased. Rural towns and the back country hardly ever see 
Bananas offered for sale. The consumption of this nutritious fruit 
would more than double if prices could be lowered and a better 
article offered for sale. The waste is very great in handling this kind 
of fruit. It has to he carried on deck and covered with tarpaulin 
when the sea is rough. The soft spray and the confined dark at- 
mosphere cause a great deal of waste. These conditions would, to 
a great extent, be minimised by shipping the fruit from our North- 
West ports, a shorter distance away and in smoother seas. 
In New South Wales and Southern Queensland, bananas are 
grown on the hillside, where the use of horses and implements is 
often impossible, but in the north where frost is not to be reckoned 
with, they are preferably grown, on flat country where machinery 
can be used in the cultivation. 
Where handiwork only is possible it takes one man to properly 
handle four or five acres of Bananas. 
Under other conditions and where horses can he used a larger 
area ean be attended to. 
