81 



" Fresh-peeled bananas contain 



In 100 parts. 



In 1 lb. 



Water 



Albuminoids, &c. 

 Sugar and pectose 

 Fat - 

 Cellulose - 

 Mineral Matter - 



73-9 

 17 



22-8 

 0-6 

 0-2 

 0-8 



oz. 



grains. 



11 



361 







119 



3 



283 







42 







14 







56 



The nutrient-ratio is here 1:14; the nutrient-value is 24." 



The " nutrient-ratio " amongst the nutrients of daily food is that 

 between the albuminoids or "flesh-formers," and the carbohydrates pins 

 the fat reckoned as starch, or "heat-givers." In the standard dietary 

 adopted it is 1 : 4f . 



For the sake of making a rough comparison between various foods, it 

 is a convenient plan to add together the per-centages of albuminoids, 

 starch, dextrin, and sugar, and the starch equivalent of any fat present. 

 The sum of these constituents is called the " nutrient-value ; " this value 

 is that of 100 parts. 



A further sample of ripe bananas (a variety of M. sapientum) grown 

 in the Palm House at Kew was submitted to Professor Church in May 

 last. The results of his analysis are as follows : — 



" Water in pulp _------ 68"3 per cent. 



Dry matter in ditto 31*7 „ 



Albuminoids, calculated from total nitrogen in 1*515 „ 



pulp. 

 True albuminoids in ditto by phenol method - 1 # 03 „ 



" The latter figures seem to show that one-third of the nitrogen in the 

 just-ripe pulp exists in non-albuminoid forms." 



The most recent analyses of meals are those lately made for Kew by 

 Professor Church, of a sample received through Messrs. Lee, Crerar, & 

 Co. from Jamaica, and called " banana " meal, although it is quite 

 possible it may have been prepared from unripe plantains. The other 

 samples were from Surinam. The latter were particularly stated to be 

 derived from the fruit of the banana {Musa sapient urn). 



Professor Church's analyses of these samples, with explanatory notes, 

 are given below : — 



Professor A. H. Church, F.R.S., to Royal Gardens, Kew. 



Shelsley, Kew Gardens, 

 Dear Mr. MCRRIS, February 16, 1893. 



I HAVE arranged in the table which follows, the results of my 

 analyses of some of the banana meals which you handed to me Eor 

 examination. The Jamaica sample is designated by the letter A. ; the 

 Surinam sample of the meal made from the interior of the fruit of 

 Musa sapientum by the letter B. ; and meal from the peels of the same 

 fruit by C. 



23099 F 



