July, 1911.] 



21 



Edible Products, 



the root ay stem to get into working 

 contact with the soil for the nourish- 

 ment of the plant. Just above the ex- 

 treme end of the root-cords it will be 

 noticed that the tissue is very soft and 

 is firmly adherent to the soil. The ex- 

 treme tip of the root is protected by a 

 small covering of dead cells. The tender 

 growing-point of the root is armed with 

 a number of fine root-hairs that are 

 very delicate and represent the chief 

 centre of activity in the work of the 

 root in the soil. 



The second type of roots are the 

 anchor roots that strike deep down and 

 serve to fasten the plant securely in the 

 soil, and to enable it to offer resistance 

 to the wind and support for the 

 bunch when it is formed. These anchor 

 roots are similar in structure to the 

 cord-like surface roots just described, 

 but are softer in texture. In medium 

 soils, these roots descend to at least four 

 feet in depth, and should they meet with 

 stagnant conditions in the subsoil the 

 plant will turn yellow and the usual 

 indications of defective drainage will 

 be made evident. 



Fawcett records that he traced the 

 roots of a banana plant a distance of 

 17 feet from the stem, and that under 

 favourable conditions the rate of root 

 development was found to be 2 feet in a 

 month. 



On the other hand the root of a banana 

 has a relatively weak penetrative power 

 in the soil. It is unable to force its way 

 between stones in the manner familiar 

 to all in the case of hard-wooded trees. 



Again, the roots of the banana are 

 easily destroyed by any unhealthy con- 

 ditions, and rot away when brought 

 into contact with sour or water-logged 

 soil. 



When the roots are cut or broken, as 

 by deep tillage, the broken ends will 

 heal and an increase of thread-like 

 absorptive roots will eventually deve- 

 lop above the point of healing. 



If a banana sucker be inverted and 

 closely cut with aknife.it will be noticed 

 that the main cord-like roots have 

 direct tubular connection with the base 

 of the plant. 



This explains why a poisoning of the 

 root by unhealthy soil conditions many 

 feet away from the main plant is imme- 

 diately seen in the plant itself. 



To sum up, the banana has an exten- 

 sive root system, but one that has very 

 weak penetrative power, and is exceed- 

 ingly susceptible to any adverse condi- 

 tions in the soil, Free drainage to a 

 depth of 1 to 5 feet for the accommo- 



dation of the anchor roots and a mellow 

 tilth for the free development of the 

 roots in the surface soil, are two condi- 

 tions that are essential. 



In order to maintain the plant in a 

 vigorous growing state, the surface soil 

 must be maintained with a minimum 

 amount of moisture for the nutrition of 

 the root-hairs. 



If the soil be allowed to ' dry out,' the 

 root-hairs die and the main roots will 

 themselves perish. 



In districts where the rainfall is irre- 

 gular, irrigation is required for the 

 cultivation of bananas. A partial 

 drought, however, may be most effec- 

 tively met by the free use of mulching 

 material (Guinea grass, pimento 

 branches, or any vegetable refuse.) 



The Stem. — Starting as a small struc- 

 ture in the centre of the ' bulb,' the 

 stem of the banana is closely wrapped 

 round with the bases of the leaf stalks. 

 As the leaves grow, the food material 

 they produce is stored up in large 

 quantities in this basal reservoir, until 

 when the leaf growth is almost complete 

 the growing point of the stem forces its 

 way up through the central channel 

 formed by the leaf -stalks, and at length, 

 when the bunch has been forced out 

 at the summit of the plant, the stem 

 becomes apparent as a supporter of the 

 fruiting system of the banana plant. 



If a plant in the fruiting stage be cut 

 down and the trunk carefully dissected 

 with a knife, the folds of the leaf-stalks 

 can be removed layer by layer until at 

 length the true stem be found in the 

 centre as a cylindrical attachment to 

 the fruiting system. If the stem be cut 

 across it will be found to be of a fibrous 

 consistency and filled with a sticky juice, 

 The fibres can be traced down to the 

 sucker below and indicate the direct 

 connection between the fruit and the 

 underground system of the plant. 



The ' fingers ' of the fruit, their associ- 

 ation iuto 'hands ' and the succession of 

 ' hands ' forming the bunch are the pro- 

 duct of the stored material in the 

 underground ' bulb' of the banana. 



The material in the 'bulb' of the banana 

 is partly ready made from the growth of 

 a previous sucker, and partly the direct 

 result of the manufacturing activity of 

 the leaves during the life of the present 

 plant. 



If this store be inadequate, it is ob- 

 vious that the fruit will also suffer. 

 Healthy roots well-fed in favourable soil 

 mean vigorous leaves with liberal manu- 

 facturing power. 



