271 
CULTIVATION. 
The fruit-bearing Musas, require a moist and uniform heat. 
not grow continuously as in the ce but ed have a resting period 
during the winter when the leaves cease to develop, or even partially 
wither. They break forth, lowore on the return of warm weather. 
fruit is produced. In many countries, even in the tropics, where the 
plants are liable to injury from hurricanes, their Prin on is either 
wholly abandoned, or only dwarf sorts are grown, like the Chinese 
bananas, under shelter of houses or walls. In spite of the usually 
luxuriant growth of bananas and plantains, they yield very poor crops 
in Jand that has long been under cultivation, and where the humus is 
irri even though the soil remains produetive f other plants, 
such as sugar-cane, cassava, maize, millet, and sorghum. In very sandy 
soils the banana may flower, but it produces no fruit. Abundant, but 
not stagnant, moisture in the soil is necessary, and the finest piants are 
generally seen on the banks, and in the poe ourhood of streams. 
Kurz states that “ transplantation of the shoots Pp dte the quality 
ofthe fruit." This may mean either that the shoots should be severed 
from the parent stem and planted singly, or that it is an advantage to 
exchange shoots from one district to another. It has been proved in 
valleys, shut in amongst the mountains. There they succeed better even 
bist in the open plains, probably on ria of d tras they i d 
d the moister climate. They w mo n slopes up to 
erpat of 3,000 to 4,000 feet, but they ate to gAn some of their 
vigour long before they reach the latter elevation. The growth is 
slower, and the bunches are ‘og so large nor so abundant. A mean 
annual temperature of 75° to 80^ Fahr. appears to suit them best; 
although Dr. Ernst states ms he has seen a plant of Musa oe 
laden with full, ripe fruit, near Caracas, at a eight of 5,175 feet, wi 
mean annual temperature of 66:2? Fahr. Lieutenant Parish Pound two 
or three FT lants cultivated in an dicitis at an elevation of 
5,1400 fee the Chumba range in the Himalayas. Considering the 
latitude iis is probably the highest limit of cultivation in "pss 
dis rther south, in the Nilgiris, Kurz says a wild banana 
TOWS On piae p teaux at an elevation of 7,000 feet. "There are seeds 
in the Kew Museum of a wild Musa from the elevated plateau of the 
bt bie which may be allied to this, 
Firminger records that plantains were growing at Firozpur in 
31° N. lat., * but there is little probability of obtaining good fruit from 
them so far north, as the frost cuts down the plants in the cold 
season, and they only recover themselves, so as to begin to bear fruit, 
when the cold season comes round again, and they are unable to 
mature it. ; 
At the same latitude, however, in the insular climate of Bermuda 
in the North Atlantie, Jones mentions both the plantain and banana 
