APEIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1922. 29 



55246 to 55252— Continued. 



become soft and have a tendency to fall from the bunch. The hands 

 of bananas are usually seven or eight in number and average about 

 14 bananas to the hand. Each fruit is from 5 to 7 inches in length 

 and from 2 to 1\ inches in diameter, with a weight of 7 or 8 ounces. 

 The skin of the ripe fruit is of medium thickness, and tender, and 

 separates, leaving a portion of its inner lining on the pulp of the fruit 

 when peeled. 'The pulp is rather spongy and white or creamy white 

 in color, suggestive of ice cream, hence its name. The flavor is 

 slightly tart and applelike." (Pope.) 



55248. "(iNo. 4499.) Ihbtena. The plant's of low growth, perhaps about 

 9 feet to the top of the leaves as an average. The petioles are rather 

 stout, light green with pink on the edges ; leaves slightly hronze 

 colored on the under surface when young. The bunch is rather small. 

 The fruits are arranged loosely and stand out almost at right angles 

 from the axis of the bunch. The skin of immature fruits is light 

 green, turning to yellow before ripening. The form of the fruit is 

 angular ; when thoroughly ripe, beginning to turn black, it is regarded 

 as one of the best of the native bananas for eating raw. It is also 

 good for cooking. The flesh is pink." (J. E. Higgins, Bulletin 7,« 

 Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 22064. 



55249. "(No. 4731.) Kona Maiamaule or Midmauli, as it is sometime* 

 called, is, I believe, the best cooking banana in these islands, and I 

 believe it has commercial possibilities in a locality like Kona, where 

 much good land may be had with sufficient rainfall, little wind, and 

 rich soil overlying a most favorable underdrainage." (Pope.) 



55250. "(No. 4497.) Largo. Introduced into Hawaii from Mexico. The 

 plant is of medium height, and the fruits, borne in long-stemmed 

 bunches, have buttery pinkish flesh of fair flavor." (J. E. Higgins, 

 Bulletin 7, Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station.) 



55251. "(No. 4495.) Porto Rico. This variety was introduced from 

 Porto Rico by the Hawaii station in 1904. 



" Description of the plant : Average height about 25 feet. Mature 

 trunks become about 10 or 12 inches in diameter at the base. Each 

 trunk supports 10 or 12 green leaves about 12 feet long. The color of 

 the trunk sheaths varies from a shade of pink to dark brown. The 

 color of the leaves is dull green above and light green below, with 

 abrasionlike markings at the base of the petioles where they begin to 

 extend from the sheath. 



" Description of the fruit : The bunch is small to medium in size,, 

 weighing 25 to 40 pounds, and usually consists of five or six hands. 

 The banana is smooth with angle ridges not prominent, apex or blossom 

 end somewhat beaked, and not well filled, even on bunches which show 

 plump fruit from good culture. The skin is bright yellow and peels 

 well when fruit is ripe. The flesh is light yellow and rather juicy, 

 sweet, with a pleasant flavor somewhat like that of the apple. The 

 fruit ripens uniformly and holds well on the bunch. 



" The Porto Rico is a very desirable banana for growing in the home 

 garden, as most of its qualities are such as are desired in a fresh 

 fruit for home use." (Pope.) 



55252. "(No. 4492.) Reel Cuban. This is the proper name of the largest 

 sized variety of the various red bananas; large both as to plant and 

 fruit. A well-grown bunch has 8 to 10 hands and individual fingers of 

 from 2 to 2£ inches in diameter. This is the red banana of commerce." 

 (Goldsmith H. Williams, Crescent City, Fla.) 



38640—23 5 



