93 
CULTURE OF THE MUSA SAPIENTA AND 
PARASIDIACA. 
1. The culture of the Musa is attended with little trouble. After taking off 
the suckers, plant them in large pots^, in a soil composed of one-third of rich sandy 
loam, and two thirds of a mixture of vegetable mould, well rotted dung, and sandy 
peat. 
2. Give them, whilst young, a temperature of from sixty to seventy degrees. 
3. When they come into flower, apply the pollen to the stigma, by means of a 
small feather. This should be done when the air of the house is pretty dry, and 
then they not uncommonly produce their fruit pretty well. 
4. Never cut off any of the leaves until they become somewhat withered, for if 
cut off too soon the plants will bleed exceedingly, and the growth of the succeeding 
leaves is thereby retarded. 
5. The leaves are also very easily split, which, if done, greatly retards the 
growth ; be careful, therefore, to preserve them as entire as possible. 
6. After impregnation place them in a warm part of the stove, where they will 
receive from seventy to eighty-five degrees of heat. They do not necessarily require 
bottom heat, although when bearing fruit, they thrive well with it, but they never 
do really well, when the pots are kept constantly plunged. 
7* Give them plenty of air in fine mild weather, but never suflfer them to be 
exposed to any direct current, or the leaves are liable to be injured both by lace- 
ration and being parched. 
8. They require a good supply of water at their roots, to make them grow to 
perfection, and particular attention is necessary in this, to bring their fruit to 
maturity. Syringing over the leaves every day in summer, is exceedingly 
beneficial. 
9. Always in potting give them abundance of room at their roots^ for any 
cramping will stop their growth. 
When in a healthy growing state the leaves of the paradisiaca will grow eight 
or nine feet long, and the Musa sapietita something larger. 
