66 THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 



back towards the stem. Maintain the stem in its 

 natural position, and the fruit would point up to- 

 wards the apex of the cluster, instead of turning 

 back as we always see them. A bunch of bananas 

 will weigh from twenty-live to fifty pounds, and four 

 crops may be grown in a year ; so that at least a hun- 

 dred pounds of fruit is yielded by a single plant, an- 

 nually. When the head of the banana is fully grown, 

 it should be cut off and hung away to ripen ; while 

 the stalk must be cut off close to the ground, that it 

 may sprout out anew, or else the root will die. 

 Plantains resemble bananas so faithfully that they 

 are not always readily distinguished, yet they are 

 not either as palatable or wholesome, unless boiled, 

 baked or fried, which are the usual methods of cook- 

 ing them. 



Several varieties of beans, are grown to some 

 extent, as well as peas, squashes, and other vegetables 

 of the same character. A species of agave, called 

 peta, furnishes a very strong fibre for cordage. It is 

 of this that the net hammocks are usually made, 

 and I am told that it is very abundant in some parts 

 of the country. 



In no place can the delicate fruits be more easily 

 produced, nor in greater variety. Besides such as 

 we have already described, the orange, lemon, lime, 

 pine-apple and mango are found growing wild, in 

 small quantities, or more abundant even under the 

 indifferent cultivation of the natives. Sapotes, gua- 

 vas, and the delicious chirimoyer also grow wild 

 throughout the forests. The chirimoyers are of two 



