86 



because it is believed in Surinam to be a stronger plant " and less liable 

 to be injured by rain and storms which are particularly severe on the 

 plantain." The meal was obtained by slicing the fruit by machinery 

 into thin pieces and drying them in a fruit-drying apparatus. The dried 

 slices were then ground into a meal in a mill and carefully sifted. The 

 analyses of various meals made in Surinam show that the meal prepared 

 from both plantain and banana has almost the same composition. A set 

 of preparations has been forwarded to Kew by Mr. Asser, consisting 

 of the following articles. The list is given in full as it shows the 

 numerous commercial uses to which the fruits of the plantain and banana 

 may be put : — 



(1) Dried slices of the entire fruit (pulp and peel) in the starchy 

 state suitable for the preparation of alcohol or for making into a 

 nourishing bread ; (2) meal in a starchy state from the pulp only for 

 making into a superior kind of bread or porridge ; (3) flakes and meal 

 in a dextrinous state for use in breweries or for making into nourishing 

 soups, puddings, &c. These flakes are of a rich brown colour, and 

 retain the banana flavour. Another preparation, very similar but sweet, 

 is intended for making into wholesome confections, cakes, biscuits, &c; 

 (5) dried peel and coarse meal prepared from it intended as a feeding 

 material for cattle and pigs ; (6) banana marmalade ; (7) dried 

 bananas entire and without peel put up like dried figs in boxes ; 

 (8) raw alcohol prepared from fresh bananas and also from dried 

 banana meal ; (9) sugary syrup of bananas " of agreeable odour and 

 flavour," suitable for confectionery purposes, for preparation of 

 liqueurs and for sweetening champagne ; (10) banana meal for the 

 manufacture of glucose and a sample of syrup and sugar prepared from 

 it ; (12) fibre of banana and plantain prepared from the discarded 

 stems after fruiting, and intended for the manufacture of paper and 

 cordage. 



The use of banana meal in the preparation of alcohol is no doubt 

 borrowed from the example at St. Michael's in the Azores, where since 

 the failure of the orange cultivation sweet potatoes are largely grown, 

 cut into thin slices, ground into meal, and then converted into alcohol. 

 During the year 1884 there was exported from the Azores alcohol 

 of the value of 40,588Z., made entirely in this manner from the sweet 

 potato. 



It is estimated by Mr. xlsser that the cost of banana cultivation in 

 Surinam will be at the rate of 21. 10s. for every ton of meal. The cost 

 of gathering the crop and making the meal will be at the rate of 18s. to 

 20s. per ton ; while the cost of freight to Europe will be about 25s. per 

 ton. The estimated net cost of delivery of banana meal in Europe is 

 therefore placed at 41. 15s. per ton. Considering the market value of 

 the banana meal to be at the same rate as Indian wheat, viz., from 

 bl. 10s. to 61. 10s. per ton, Mr. Asser claims there would be a margin 

 of profit on banana meal equal to about 15 per cent, on the capital 

 invested. 



