96 

 M. Corniculata, (Rijmph, ) ; flower larger than in any 



other f oriti, only 2-3 rarely 4 whorls of flowers produced, fruit 



as large as in paradisiac a. 



M, Text ills ; leaves firraer in texture than in sapientum, 



yielding a useful fi"bre, Isracts polished, seeds very small and 



scarcely at all angled. Native of the Philippines, cultivated 



in India, 



M, Arakanensis ; a fibre yielding fon-i from Arrakan, 

 M, Zebrina ; a handsome form with variegated leaves. 



Culture 



The "banana plant is prized for its fruit, textile fibre 

 and decorative effect in landscape gardening. The species 

 mostly in demand for fruiting seldon or neYer produce seeds, 

 and naturally increase "by suckers around the "base of each 

 plant. These forma large clump, if allowed to grow without 

 care. They are most readily separated from the parent root- 

 stalk "by a spade, and are then fit for further planting. This 

 is slow process of increase, "but it is sure, aiid the suckers 

 so produced make large and vigorous plants, A quicker method 

 of propagati'^n is to cut the entire root-stalk into small, 

 wedge shaped pieces, leaving the outer surface of the root 

 a"bout 1 "by 2 inches in size, planting in light, moist soil, 

 with the point of the wedge down and the outer surface "but 

 sli^tly covered. The "best material for covering these small 

 piece is fine peat, old leaf mould, mixed moss and sand, or 

 other light material which is easily kept moist. The "bases 



