466 



THE PLANTAIN AND BANANA. 



tliat bore it is felled and left to rot on the gi-ound, but this might 

 be turned to advantage for its fibre. It is stated officially that the 

 yield of fibre from thousands of acres of the plantain is lost annually 

 in the colony of British Guiana alone for want of simple and inex- 

 pensive means for separating it. Could an efficient and cheap machine 

 be invented the fibre would be almost entire profit to the planter. 

 The banana yields less fibre than the plantain, and it is generally 

 somewhat discoloured or tinted. 



The next point for consideration is the machinery necessary for 

 cleaning and preparing the fibre ; it is recommended that the stalk be 

 cut into lengths of about 4 feet, and also divided into 4, so as to be 

 able to separate the different qualities of fibre before passing through 

 the mill, formed of horizontal rollers, by which means the water and 

 a portion of feculae or pulp would be pressed out. There would still 

 remain a portion closely adhering to the fibre to be got rid of, which 

 would require a scraping operation, which there is no doubt could be 

 performed by means of a scraper of wood or metal attached to the 

 mill, and put in motion by the same motive power ; it would, then, 

 require the application of water the more effectually to loosen the 

 remaining matter ; exposure to the sun would dry and bleach it after 

 being passed through a heckle, which would separate the threads. 

 The dilference in value of each description and quality of fibre must 

 depend- upon its strength, and its fitness for the various purposes 

 for which it would be found applicable in the manufacture of 

 cloth, cordage, paper, &c. Practical experience would soon prove 

 the most eflectual methods of performing the several operations ; and, 

 if fitted to the purposes for which they are requii-ed ; the most 

 suitable localities for these plantations would, no doubt, be in the 

 mountain districts, or in the plains, if well supplied with streams of 

 water running through them. ExjDcrience will soon determine which 

 variety of Musa is most valuable for producing fibre for manufacturing 

 purposes. The best plant for this purpose is that which will produce 

 the greatest return in the shortest period, requiring but little know- 

 ledge and expense in cultivation. 



The one pre-eminently fitted to answer all these requirements, is the 

 Martinique banana (Musa sapientum), requiring but little or no skill 

 and energy in its general management ; for quantity, colour, and 

 texture of fibre, it surpasses by far all varieties of the common plan- 

 tain (Musa paradisiaca), which is a delicate plant, and frequently 

 requires to be renewed or re-planted. The production of suckers and 

 weight of stem are at least one-third less than the banana, and the 

 fibre by no means so strong. I would also recommend two other 

 species of Musa to the cultivators of this genus for their valuable 

 fibre. One is the Musa violacea, an exotic from the Philippines, and 

 in no respect inferior to the banana, except in the absence of edible 

 fruit. The plant is exceedingly prolific and hardy. The other is the 

 one producing the well-known Manila hemp (Musa textilis), and no 

 expense or trouble ought to be spared by the Colonial Governments 

 to introduce suckers and seeds of this most valuable plant in quantity 

 in the West Indies, as it takes a long time to obtain stock from the 

 produce of one plant. 



