THE PLANTS AND GARDENS OF THE CANARY ISLANDS. 
95 
Teneriffe." In all about 118,632 tons of fresh fruit left the 
islands for England in one year. The value of the other exports 
in 1892 was : Cochineal, €50,877 ; Wine, £20,785 ; Spirits, 
£5,761. Tobacco was exported in 1890 to the value of £:30,064. 
None appears to have been exported since, owing to fiscal charges. 
Bananas are being largely grown in the islands of Grand 
Canary and Teneriffe. They flourish only on land that is 
irrigated and in warm localities near the sea coast. The sort 
almost exclusively cultivated is the Chinese Banana {Musa 
chinensis). This is a shorter and stouter plant than the 
tropical Bananas, but produces very large bunches of fruit. 
There are often 150 to 250 fingers " to a bunch. The suckers 
are planted at 8 to 10 feet apart. The first crop is obtained in 
eighteen months after planting. After the fruit is gathered the 
stem is cut down, and suckers that have arisen at the base bear 
the succeeding crops. Banana growing is entirely in the hands 
of the Canarians. No Europeans seem to succeed so well owing 
to the complicated nature of the tenure of land and the difficulties 
with water and labour. The export of Bananas from the 
Canaries is assuming very large proportions. The exports in 
1893 from Grand Canary alone were 217,095 bunches. Nearly 
all the Bananas consumed in this country come either from the 
Canaries or Madeira. The trade is apparently capable of con- 
siderable extension, and, so far, there does not appear to be any 
competition from other countries. A few Bananas of other sorts 
are grown in gardens. A fine red Banana is grown sparingly at 
Las Palmas, and the " Apple Banana "or " Manzano," with a 
tall stem, is found in the country districts. 
Oranges in Grand Canary are of excellent flavour. They 
recall the best sorts of St. Michael Oranges, now almost extinct. 
Strange to say, the trees are little cared for, and consequently 
are badly affected with disease. The Orange trees near Telde, in 
Grand Canary, and at Granadilla, in Teneriffe, are the best in 
the islands. They evidently require warm, sheltered situations. 
The land should be well drained, have a sweet subsoil, and 
receive liberal supplies of manure. There is a good opening for 
two or three men with experience in Florida to take up Orange- 
growing in Grand Canary. The small quantity of Canary Oranges 
that reach this country early in the season are readily taken up, 
and fetch good prices. The drawbacks appear to be that there 
