304 
years, and as many more can be had if required. The purchasers of 
these plants are P ars cd large planters, and this shows that there 
is money in ban 
tenon kan "iti confidence to the purchasers of these plants and 
to others interested, the advantages of a dried fruit trade. I do so 
from the facts I have learnt in the experiments made in aid of the 
fruit trade. 
C. W. MEADEN. 
Mr. C. W. Meaden adds that drying ripe bananas in the open air has 
proved a failure. This, however, has been remedied by the use of a hot 
air fruit-drier known as the * Etna Pneumatic Drier.” The fruit in 
this * ean be dried within 24 hours at a temperature from 130° to 160° F. 
A higher temperature than this is un esira e as the fruit hardens. 
as large as possible and q ripe ; th 
skin to be removed and the fruit lightly scraped. Whilst i in the ter 
the frui t is to be turned twice or three times carefully to ensure even 
drying." 
_ Preserved bananas from Fiji have recently been sold retail in 
— at 7d. per poun nd. To ensure a large demand for the fruit in 
preserved state it must compete rnin with figs, dates, and 
raisins, both as regards quality and prime 
Preserved bananas are represented in the Kew Museum from Mr. 
Espeut, Jamaica, 1881, dried - whole. Ae. roi British Guiana, Col.- 
Ind, Exhibition, 1886. * Cannore figs" from Siam, shown at the 
Health Exhibition, dois. - gei Denans ” from the Straits Settie- 
ments, 1886, neatly put up in a soft packing of dried banana leaves. 
A torpedo. shaped package tightly tied round with banana cord containing 
a ananas received from Sir Ferd. von Mueller from Queens- 
lan 
PLANTAIN MEAL. 
A good deal of m has been taken lately in the y mirus of 
plantain meal for food purposes in temperate countries. n some 
measure is due to the frequent mention made of it in Mr. Stanley’ s work 
(In Darkest Africa) giving an account of the Emin Pacha Relief 
Expedition. But for the plantain, either in a fresh state or made into 
ME this expedition would probably never have accomplished its task. 
For instance near the Amiri Falls (Vol. tel p: 450) “the foragers 
gpneness often in ok s with an immense of plantains between 
The more provident, however, b cheese quantities of the 
fruit, peeled and ed Peg for drying, ins avoiding the superfluous 
talk and skin . . e fruit when dry co be converted into 
Sabes or palatable sicud. porridge or a adorning’ s draught of plantain 
gruel. Many of the finest specimens were rese served to ripen | to make 
a sweet pudding, or a sweet brew, or for sauce for the porridge.” 
When between: xy Albert Edward oh aera gus the Albert Nyanza 
(Vol. ii, pp. 239-240) :—* For the first t e discovered that the 
Awamba, whose territory we ve v4 in, a edon the art of ET 
bananas over wooden gratings, for the purpose of making flour. We 
had often wondered, during our P ie. in the forest region, that the 
