THE PLANTAIN AND BANANA. 



465 



cabin, however small or mean. Tliougli it wants the grace and beauty 

 of the cocoanut palm, its form is peculiarly tropical, none more so. 

 In good soil it grows to the height of 20 feet. It is about 9 inches in 

 diameter at the base, tapering towards the top, when it sends out long 

 broad leaves, and also a short stalk bearing a heavy cluster of fruit 

 (which, in Jamaica, I have known to ^weigh as much as 70 lbs.) The 

 plantain requires to be renewed on good soil only once in 40 years. 

 Little care is bestowed upon its culture, being planted in check rows 

 12 feet apart. The ground usually receives two ploughings during 

 the season. It is not unfrequently seen growing, however, on the 

 shallow soils of the coral formation, where there is little for it to fix 

 its roots, except the crevices of the rock. It is largely used by all 

 classes, and commonly pulled when green, and cooked with grease or 

 oil. In Jamaica it is roasted in the wood ashes of the kitchen lire, 

 and used as a substitute for bread, and it is also boiled and used as a 

 potato. In this form it is seen on the tables of both rich and poor. 

 For, although the plantain cannot support the strength of the over- 

 worked labourer, it furnishes, when the work is light, a most whole- 

 some and delicious food. ... I rode through a field of plantains 

 attached to an estate, of 60 acres in extent." 



The plantain, or banana, is generally admitted to be a better 

 developed plant in the West than in the East Indies. All hot 

 climates seem equally congenial to its growth. It is considered by 

 the best authorities to be a native of the East Indies, and other parts 

 of the Asiatic continent, and probably of Africa. Baron Humboldt 

 has, however, suggested that several of the species of Musa may, 

 possibly, be confounded under the names of plantain and banana, and 

 that some of these may be indigenous to America. Linnseus con- 

 jectured that the Bihai {Heliconia liwnilis), a native of Caraccas, which 

 produces fertile seeds, is the stock of the plantain. 



Dr. Eoyle, whose opinion is more reliable on the subject, agrees 

 with Mr. Brown in thinking " nothing has been advanced to prevent 

 all the cultivated varieties being derived from one species, Musa sapi- 

 entum (also coiWQdiMusaparasidiaca, the banana), of which the original 

 is the wild Musa described by Dr. Eoxburgh as grown from seed 

 received from Chittagong." 



The banana and plantain form a large portion of the food of the 

 natives in New Caledonia. Before the French occupation they had 

 but four species — M. fehi, Bert ; M. paradisiaca, Linn. ; M. discolor, 

 Hort ; and M. oleracea, Nob. Musa sinensis and sapientum, introduced 

 only a few years, have begun to be extensively cultivated among the 

 tribes. 



The plantain loves moist situations, and requires, for perfect deve- 

 lopment, a rich soil. The labourers plant it much too closely ; it 

 should he allowed, from root to root, a space of 14 feet good. The 

 first year's crop thereby may be reduced, but the cultivator will have 

 his reward in the subsequent yield. Besides, in wide planting, the 

 better opportunity is alforded of self-reimbursement to the planter in 

 the shape of inter-culture of other minor articles, such as Indian 

 corn, peas, &c. 



Flantain Fibre. — When the fruit has arrived at maturity the stem 



2 H 



