300 
are, as a rule, eim although the x diea fruits may be as fine, 
if not finer, than in the large bunches. It has been already shown that 
while 2 to 3 dolik will be paid in Now York for large bunches 
the small bunches will not sell for over 60 or 70 cents, and, as a 
broker has graphi ically remarked, “be a drug in the market even at 
these low prices. 
If a good opening were established for well-preserved bananas, 
them to be dried like figs. They cannot always be dried in the sun. 
The process is too tedious and the fruit often assumes a dark colour 
with a taste and smell sugzesting acetic fermentation. 
In Western India at Agási, north of Bassein, Nairne says, “ They 
have a way of drying bananas, which if done scientifically and for 
export — leve make the fruit in that form as popular in 
England as dried figs." 
A sample preserved bananas or plantains prepared at Kurunegala, 
be su by Mr. Morris, the Assistant Government Agent in 1840, was 
ted in that year by Dr. Wallich to the Agri.-Hort. Society of 
India (Trans. VIIL., pp. 58-59). The kind of ss used was that 
known in Ceylon as “ Suandelle.” Dr. Wallich stated, “ The plantains 
appear to me to be little inferior to figs, and 1 should think them as 
wholesome and nutritious.” Attached to Dr. eeu. letter (as 
published) is given an extract from Captain Colquhoun's paper read 
before the Society of Arts on specimens of dried irse called 
platano passado from Mexico. “ The object of Captain Colquhoun is 
produce hitherto unkn in British Colonies and in European 
commerce which would idab obtain a considerable comsumption 
in England, and also be very pepi as a useful and agreeable 
article of food on long sea voyage 
Dr. Shier, vf Demerara, is quoted in the “Catalogue of T Paris 
Exhibition of 1867,” in wur to preserved bananas as follow. 
plantains and bana as.-—It was ex spen by the -— of 
ana] 
great London Exhibition of 1851, which had been prepared in Mexico 
many years before, proved the great superiority of the platano passado 
over figs in keeping properties andi in immunity from insect ravages. In 
sun's lacks is sufficient to prepare them for the market in an e xportable & form, 
be seen by the ‘Method of Drying the Plantain,’ described by 
Mr. pom W. Doyle in a communication to the Earl of Malmesbury, a 
copy of which was transmitted to this Colony on 2n d August 1852 by 
climate, or a greate proportion of nitrogenous elements in our plantains 
and bananas, it is found in practice that simple solar exposure is not 
adequate for the preparation of this dried fruit. "There are three modes, 
however, by which the object can be attained :—Ist, by exposing the 
fully ap € to an atmosphere of sulphurous acid gas, previous to the 
nis cess being commenced; 2nd, by a hasty boil of the fully 
n water con cad sulphate of lime (hard water); and 3rd, 
ho a nili pies in 
