i86 



as important as direct profits and, arguing on the principle that he 

 is a benefactor to the human race who makes two blades of grass 

 grow where one grew before, I expect the planter who made Bana- 

 nas grow all over his cleared ground, and gave all the fruit away to 

 his coolies, would be well repaid in the permanency and well being 

 of his coolie staff ; but I think also that such generosity is not yet 

 called for and that the planter might reasonably expect to get a 

 price for his produce, if only a small one ; and that this return 

 would help to pay for his weeding. I cannot think that the whole 

 space between two rows of rubber tree-;, perhaps 16 feet, should be 

 weeded carefully for six years and not produce anything ; that 

 seems a great waste of labour. As fruit and vegetable, the Banana 

 is one of the most healthy foods obtainable in the east; but from a 

 commercial point of view, undoubtedly the varieties producing fibre 

 and those best adapted to flour making, should be planted. 



Bananas ar^ amongst the easiest of all plants to grow, they should 

 be planted twelve to eighteen feet apart, and once planted, if they 

 are kept mulched with grass and rubbish, especially during the dry 

 season, they will continue to produce fruit from three to five years 

 and great quantities of it. It is said that an acre of Bananas will 

 produce enough fo >d for 25 people, and I should think this is no 

 exaggeration. 



It is a most interesting plant to grow because of the great num- 

 ber of varieties, I do not suppose that the table attached to this 

 paper contains more than half the names' which could be collected, 

 and there are very few of them that are not useful in one way or 

 another ; the Benjarese are great Banana growers and they have a 

 way of drying the fruit gradually in the sun and over fires, until it 

 becomes almost as tough and dry as a rig or date, in this state I 

 expect it could be packed for exportation ; if Bananas of good 

 quality, like Pisang Mas or Pi-ang Ambun, are treated in this way 

 they make a most delicious food and one very useful for carrying in 

 the jungle 



I can see no reason at all why the wild pisang of the Peninsula 

 should not be plant d, it produces a g od fibre and would I am sure 

 compete with the Manilla hemp. 



The last word has surely not yet been said concerning Banana 

 flour, it would surely be worth a planter's while to make some ex- 

 periments in this direction ; when it is remembered that some of the 

 African tribes live almost entirely on roughly prepared cakes, made 

 of badly dried and dessicated plantains, it seems as if there is a good 

 line for another food stuff, which could be produced nowhere cheaper 

 than in the se States. 



A. HALE, 



District Officer, Larnt and Krian. 



Taiping, Perak, 



June, 1906. 



