BANANAS FROM A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. 



9 



The plants are fairly hardy, but the fruit is very delicate, and, in spite 

 of its thick skin, is very sensitive to bruising or low temperatures, in con- 

 sequence of which it is always shipped carefully packed in crates. In 

 flavour it is rich, and is generally preferred to other kinds. 



This kind is also grown in Barbados, but there it attains greater 

 perfection, and is of finer flavour and more luscious, probably owing to 

 the soil being richer than that of the Canary Islands. 



The variety grown in Costa Rica and Jamaica is the 'Gros Michael,' 

 the plants of which attain a height of eighteen or twenty feet, and 

 bear long straggling bunches of large fingers, which are much coarser in 

 flavour than those of M. Cavcndishii. The plants are less robust than 

 those of the smaller variety, but the fruit is much, more hardy, and 

 will stand a lot of knocking about, and a moderate amount of cold, for 

 which reason the bunches are always shipped without packing. This is 

 fortunate, for the long bunches require very cumbersome crates to pack 

 them in. 



Another kind sometimes seen here is the 1 Claret,' which derives its 

 name from the dusky claret colour of its skin, and which, in my opinion, 

 is the best of all, having a very delicious flavour. The bunches are 

 usually very small, and have very few fingers on them, but these, being 

 very large, are well worth the price usually charged for them, 2d. each. 

 It is possible that this kind may become better known before long. 



Of kinds which are useless for export there are several ; and I have 

 often been asked why one, the 'Lady's Finger,' is not sent over. 



The reason is that the bunches and the " fingers " of this variety are 

 very small, and the skin of the fruit is so delicate that it is almost 

 impossible to "market" this banana in good condition. 



It is frequently stated that the large fruit seen on the hawkers' 

 barrows, and in the shops, is not the true banana, but the plantain. 



This is incorrect, for the plantain is quite a distinct variety, and is 

 generally used as a vegetable. I have never heard of any being sold here. 



The banana is very easily grown, and produces a larger quantity of 

 food per acre than any other plant known, for with ordinary cultivation 

 one acre will produce from two to three hundred bunches, at a cost of 

 only about £4 or to ; therefore one would think that it should be 

 possible to buy very cheaply here ; but unfortunately, although one of 

 the easiest grown fruits, it is one of the most difficult to transport, and 

 the freight usually costs four or five times as much as its cultivation. 



From the Canary Islands the voyage takes from five to seven days, 

 and the fruit is brought as deck cargo, no special facilities being provided 

 to keep it cool in summer or warm in winter, so that in both seasons large 

 quantities are spoilt. 



The voyage from Barbados takes from eleven to twelve days, and the 

 fruit is brought in holds cooled by powerful fans, and in some of the ships 

 by refrigerating machinery. The percentage of waste from all causes is 

 steadily decreasing, and large consignments often arrive now with every 

 bunch absolutely sound. Last year three or four consignments were 

 spoilt by overheating, and this winter one consignment has arrived badly 

 chilled. 



As the temperature of the holds must not go above 70 degrees for any 



