269 
kind in all characters of the fruit; the shape, Dp of the skin, 
texture, and taste are all unusual. It is not of m use for eating 
raw like other bananas, but cooked it is the best of all? 3 
Chinese or dwarf: fruit curved, 7 to 9 inches long, greenish 
yellow ; paon the heaviest bunches of all, often exceeding 80 pounds 
and containing 200 fruits. ** Sometimes the bunches appear nearly as 
long as the stem of the plant bearing them 
VENEZUELA. 
An account of the pr sh — of banana ver ape in Venezuela 
is given by Diaz in E/ Agricultor Venezolano (1877 
E or platano phu is the common lasted widely distri- 
buted titróügtioot tropieal America. 
Platano dominico, the sofa or small-fruited qup is very similar 
to the common plantain in appearance and habit; the fruit, however, is 
smaller and the plant somewhat hardier, that is, it bears better the cold 
of the mountains. 
Platano topocho or the topocho plantain. Diaz regards this, to which 
and flavour of the fruit; the latter in its bL QUIE habit, and power 
of resistance to dry weather. On account of t tter quality the 
topocho and red banana are preferred as shade plants on anie lands 
on the mae "the fruit of the zopocho when ri readily eaten by 
man and animals. “It is a special favourite of bd ducks, turkeys, 
and all the fenthered family." 
Cambur morado, or the red banana, differs from the preceding in the 
colour of the stem and fruit. The fruit of this red banana is specially 
suitable for preserving by being dried in the sun 
Cambur criollo or the Creole banana. The fudit is smaller than either 
of the above, the stem is stained with blotches and black streaks, the 
fruit is small and very palatable to eat with dessert. In a green state it 
is most suitable as an addition to the Spanish olla or stew. 
ambur manzano or the apple banana. The stem leaves are 
tinged with red; the fruit is as small as the Creole bana It has a 
very delicate flavour and it is the most highly esteemed TE any. 
Cambur pigmeo or dwarf banana. This hardly attains a height of 
5 feet (probably the Chinese banana, M. Cavendishii). The bunch of 
fruits is so large that it sometimes touches the ground. The fruit is 
slightly larger than the Creole banana, but with a similar flavour. 
Fresh fruits preserved in spirit of ih kinds of ssa gr and eee 
from Venezuela are in the Kew These were originally se 
to the International Exhibition of 1865, and presented by the Republic 
of Venezuela. The first is marked platano dominico, “bannanier 
royal" or Royal plantain; the fruit is about 8 to 10 inches long, 
2 inches diameter, rather. prominently ribbed, sida quadrangular, 
much curved, with the point produced but blunt. The other is named 
j ie” or fig banana. The fruit 
is 6 to eight inches long, 14 inches diameter, slightly angular and almost 
terete, moderately curved, rounded at the top and crowned by the 
