141 



Edible Products. 



the high percentage given by Heir Leuscher is that he was dealing with 

 comparatively large fruits, for he takes the average weight of one as 5 J- ok., so 

 that only three fruits would go to the pound, while with our ordinary small 

 plantains about ten go to make up a pound, and as a result a larger proportion 

 goes away as peel. 



The method of manufacture shortly stated consists of drying and reducing 

 to powder. The desiccation may be by sun heat or with the aid of a dryer or 

 evaporator, while the reduction to powder can be done by means of a mortar 

 and pestle or a grinding machine. 



Cost. — I have not been able to get at any reliable figures as to cost of 

 production in the West, but Indian experiments show it as nearly 40 cents per lb. 

 that is nearly Rs. 900 or £60 per ton ! According to Mr. Stouter the cost per lb. was 

 16 cents, i.e., Rs. 360 or £24 per ton. These figures represent cost of production at the 

 places of manufacture, at Sharanpur in India and Anuradhapura in Ceylon, res- 

 pectively, so that cost of packing, rail freight, shipping charges and what not have 

 to be added. 



Sale Price. — Taking £27 as the maximum price— which a London firm 

 is said to have offered to give per ton— there is still little prospect of a remunerative 

 trade in banana flour, but when we hear of £8 and £5, the figures given in Prof. 

 Dnustan's report, there can be no hope whatever of a paying industry being esta- 

 blished in Ceylon. Among enquiries I received from abroad was one from the 

 manufacturers of a well-known brand of infant's food, who made the magnanimous 

 offer of 70s. to 75s. per ton. c.i.f., which works out at something less than 

 \d. per lb. 



Buyer v. Seller. —It would interest you to hear what has been said from 

 the Buyers' as well as the Sellers' point of view. 



The following is taken from a letter written by a West Indian manu- 

 facturer : — "With reference to banana meal there is really no market or outlet for 

 it, and I have been working the thing for all it is worth and have spent £300 over it, 

 trying to get a satisfactory market, bnt all to no purpose. Quotations have been 

 made by a London firm of £27 per ton, ex Warehouse and Docks, London. I have 

 offered to supply at these rates— they were simply booming it. I have sent 

 tons of meal to various countries, all to no purpose, as the market seems to 

 want it to compete with wheat or rice." 



On the other hand a leading London firm writes : — "The position of the 

 article is that the present supply is more than sufficient to meet the demand. Two 

 years ago we had small buyers at 30s. to 35s. per cwt., but we found that the planters 

 then were only able to supply it in spasmodic quantities and we dropped the 

 matter .... Within the last few months we have had enquiries from planters said 

 to be able to produce in regular quantities, but the trade here is so very small that 

 it is not worth our while to bother about it, particularly after the time and money 

 we have spent in trying to find a market. We are not inclined to waste further 

 time and money on the article, until we see a regular demand for the flour as well as 

 a regular supply." 



But before a regular supply could be assumed a satisfactory market rate 

 must be established. 



With the present steady demand for bananas and plantains as fruits and 

 vegetables, and the facilities that are being afforded for rapid transport by rail, 

 I am not sanguine of a local trade in banana flour being started. 



