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Dessicated Bananas. — In a late issue of the Tropical Agri- 

 culturist I find a letter to the Editor as follows : — 



"As I know you are interested in all industries connected 

 with Ceylon, I am sending you a sample of semi-dessicated 

 bananas or plantains, sent to me from home, which the sender 

 informs me is usually supplied from the West Indies, and which 

 is used in large quantities by bakers for fancy cakes instead of, 

 or along with orange peel. As there appears to me to be an 

 opening for business with home in this stuff, I write to ask if 

 you know of any house out here that deal in it, or if it has ever 

 been tried." 



Another correspondent writes in reply and concludes by 

 saying :— 



" I have sun-dried ripe plantains sliced in two, and they 

 both keep well and are as tasty as figs, or they may be stewed. 

 Pity there is not more enterprise in our midst." 



Many years ago when engaged in the manufacture of arrow- 

 root I tried to dry bananas in the sun, but failed with all the 

 varieties that I experimented with except the plantain, so- 

 called here, and with this I succeeded very well. The outer 

 skin was removed, and the fruit cut lengthways into halves, 

 which were then laid upon the zinc or calico trays which I used 

 for drying the arrowroot ; the trays were then placed in the 

 sun, and taken in at night. From recollection I think that it 

 took about three days to dry them sufficiently, and they were 

 turned two or three times during the process of drying. The 

 worst annoyance that we had was the large number of small 

 flies which made their appearance, and considerably damaged 

 the fruit, so that we were compelled to cover the trays with 

 fine net to exclude them. When sufficiently dry the fruit was 

 placed in wide mouthed glass bottles, and kept sound for a con- 

 siderable time. The flavour resembled that of dried figs, and 

 they were much relished by all who tasted them. They were, 

 however, liable after some time to be attacked by insects in the 

 same way as dried figs, and probably by the same species of 

 insect. It would be interesting to know whether better results 

 could not be obtained by the use of the " dessicator," as I feel 

 sure that there would be a demand for the product locally if it 

 were obtainable at a reasonable cost. 



Medicinal Plants. Moschosma Biparia. — In my last year's 

 Report it was stated that this plant "has very powerful medi- 

 cinal action in controlling epidemic influenza and some forms of 

 enteric," and that about 71bs. of the dried leaves of the plant 

 had been collected, a portion of which had been sent to Colonel 

 M'Cormack at the request of the authorities at the War Office, 



