132 
FIRST BOOK. 
What famous clusters of fruit!" cried Harry. 
Then he asked: Are the banana plants reared 
from seeds, Uncle?" 
4. ''No/' replied his uncle, ''it is not grown 
from seeds; it has an underground stem which 
sends up side-shoots. There would be a large 
clump of these if they were left to grow, but 
it is best to cut most of them away, leaving 
only three or four. The suckers that are thus 
cut away may be planted in other places." 
5. "The leaves grow very fast/' said Fred. 
" That is why they become so big. Father says 
that a leaf sometimes grows several inches in one 
day." 
6. "That is true," said Mr. Hill "If you 
watch the growth of a banana shoot you will see 
a long green roll, formed of two leaves. As these 
unroll, other leaves appear, until, in time, the 
beautiful, spreading crown is formed. The 
straight, tall stem of the plant is built up of the 
leaf-stalks, which are rolled one over the other." 
7. "How long is it before the fruit is ripe?" 
asked Harry. 
" The first crop is ready in less than a year 
from the time of planting," said Mr. Hill. 
8. "A beautiful spike of flowers springs from 
the crown of leaves. At first the flowers are in 
a sheath'; when that falls off" the tiny bananas 
