284 
* So far as my observation goes the disease first attacks the growing 
parts of the plant, and a induces decay downwards to the roots, the 
whole m eventually rotting. 
* As a tentative measure I would suggest the complete destruction of 
infected plants, and the removal of all that are healthy to well-drained 
pee fertile so 
“Tt is otearvel that the *fig-sucré, or small-fruited banana, enjoys 
the greatest immunity from attack ; possibly on account of the harder 
charstiter of the epidermis in this variety.” 
South-East Africa.—Although the fruit-yielding Musas are not culti- 
vated to any extent in Cape Colony, specimens of diseased banana fruits 
were received from Professor Me in 1893 grown near East 
London. The disease was very similar, if not px Rs with that caused 
by a species of IS i in Queens: id. It affects both the flowers 
and fruit, and seems to be genera 
Laboratory at Kew with the spores of the fungus soon showed the 
disease in a virulent lic: It is x vdd desirable to carefully weh 
banana plants affected by any for of “black smut,” and 
destroy them immediately, “before te dins has had opportunity D 
spread. 
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Economic Usrs. 
Ripe bananas, especially the delicate sorts, are an excellent dessert 
fruit, and they are universally used in the tropics. The taste an 
flavour of the banana fruit are very various. Some are acidulous, others 
acid-sweet or sweet like sugar. In the best varieties the pulp is soft and 
melting, with a delicate fruity flavour resembling apple, strawberry, or 
pine-ap di The taste for ripe bananas of late years has largely spread 
sprung up between the West Indies, especially. Jamaica, and arts of 
Central America, to ship fresh fruit to the United States and Canada. 
During the year 1893 the eta quantity received at ports in the 
United States reached nearly 13 million bunches. The value of this 
fruit at the wharf would not be far on of four millions sterling. 
The quantity received at ports in the Dominion of Canada is not given, 
but it must be steadily increasing since direct steamers have now been 
placed between Canada and the West Indies. The consumption of 
bananas in this country and on the Continent is as yet comparatively 
small. 
Dampier, during his * New Voyage round the World," 1679 to 1691, 
recognised the value of the plantain and banana. “The e plantain,” he 
says, “ I take to be the king of all fruit, se m the eoco[nut] itself. 
The trees are not raised from seed (for they seem not to have any 
but from the roots of other old trees. if these young suckers are 
taken out the ground and planted in another place it wiil be 
. 
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15 months before they bear; but if let stand in their own native 
soil they will bear in 12 months. As soon as the fruit is ripe the tree 
decays. 
ais: “When this fruit is only used for bread, it is roasted or 
boiled when it is just full grown, but not yet ripe, or turned yellow. 
. metimes, for a change, they eat a roasted plantain and a 
raw plantain together, which is instead of bread and butter. 
E 
etimes our nglish take six or seven ri 
